Even pets need to beat the heat

[bigdoglover]

Kerrville Daily Times

By Ashley Bachelor

As the days get hotter, it’s time to brush up on keeping pets cool and heatstroke-free.

Common household pets such as dogs and cats should be given plenty of fresh water in the summer and have access to a large amount of shade, said Dr. Scott Chapman, a veterinarian at the Town & Country Animal Hospital.

Pets should only be outside for a short period of time during the day. Owners should try to keep their pets inside from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. because that is the hottest time of day, Chapman said.

“When the temperature gets above 95 (degrees), it gets rough on the animals,” he said.

It doesn’t start cooling off until 8 p.m., he said.

As a general rule, cats should be kept inside until evening to avoid the mid-day heat, Chapman said. Some cats handle the heat pretty well, though. Many are able to lie in the grass in direct sunlight without getting overheated, and others voluntarily seek shade often, he said. Cats are not as susceptible to heatstroke as dogs, he said.

“Dogs are not able to sweat, so they pant,” Chapman said.

Pet owners can do a couple of things to help dogs cool off while outside in the heat. Some people set out kids’ swimming pools for their pets to wade in and stay moist, he said. Giving pets access to a pool or a trip to the river is a good idea, he said.

Owners should not throw water on their pets if they seem to be overheated, because cooling them off too fast can be harmful, Chapman said.

“It’s best to just moisten them,” he said.

Selecting an exercise time also is important. It is best for pets to be walked in the early morning or later at night. They should never be forced to run in hot, humid weather, according to the National Humane Education Society Web site.

When owners take their pets on walks, they should avoid hot surfaces such as asphalt, Chapman said. Grass is a better surface to protect the pads of their feet.

Heatstroke usually happens to dogs if they don’t have shade or water, Chapman said. Overworking dogs is another cause. He has not had any pets brought to his office — so far this summer — who have had heatstroke. Most previous cases where he has seen dogs with heatstroke all had a common fault: dogs being left in a hot car.

Chapman said this is something owners should never do, even if they leave the windows down or slightly cracked.

“People don’t realize how fast a car can get hot,” he said.

In the Kerrville city limits, it is against the law to leave a dog or cat unattended in a car.

Other household pets such as birds and snakes are not affected much by the summer months. Both of these pets are usually indoor pets that would never be out in the heat, he said. If pet owners have birds, such as cockatoos, that can be outside in aviaries, they will do just fine if they are placed in the shade, he said.

Any animal should not be left alone inside or outside for a long period of time. Pet owners should not leave their pets inside by themselves or chained up outside while they go on vacation, according to the NHES Web site.

The best thing pet owners can do is to just use their own good sense when taking care of their animals, Chapman said.

“Use your head — common sense,” he said.

[rmci]

Pet owners can do a couple of things to help dogs cool off while outside in the heat. Some people set out kids’ swimming pools for their pets to wade in and stay moist, he said. Giving pets access to a pool or a trip to the river is a good idea, he said.

There are cases of dogs drowning in kiddie pools so I wouldn't leave one unattended.

-Dogs with short snouts such as a boxer or pug have more trouble breathing than other breeds in hot weather. They should be kept in an airconditioned area.

Any animal should not be left alone inside or outside for a long period of time. Pet owners should not leave their pets inside by themselves or chained up outside while they go on vacation, according to the NHES Web site.

Duh! How could anyone do this?