Pets Need Special Attention in the Heat

[bigdoglover]

WNEP 16

By Renie Workman and Paola Giangiacomo

When the weather is this hot, it's important to make sure our furry friends stay as cool as they can. In some cases that means getting rid of the fur.

Hair of the Dog Grooming Salon has been busy lately. With the hot weather, many dogs are getting new summer cuts and it looks like short is the new style.

Jim Kukol brought his two Malteses, Baby and Angel, in for their haircuts Tuesday.

"It gets very warm and it makes them a little more comfortable if they don't have all that hair," Kukol said.

Owner Melody Fuller said many people think that short cuts keep dogs cooler in the summer but their coats also protect the animals from the sun.

"When a dog is cut down in the summer you have to keep them out of the sun because they will sunburn, just like a human will," she explained.

Fuller also said panting is a dog's natural air-conditioning, so it doesn't always mean your pet is overheated. But pet owners know it's important to keep pets cool and hydrated when it's this hot outside. Many pet owners agree.

"You worry about them overheating. Keep them in the house where it's air conditioned, rather than outside. Limit their outside time," Kukol added.

"They must make sure they have enough water, fresh water. I even put an ice cube in my water and she likes it better when it's extra cold when it's so hot like this," said pet owner Kathy Red of Hazleton.

Fuller adds that when taking their pets for walks, people should avoid sidewalks and pavement so the pets don't burn their feet. In this hot weather people need to think about their four-legged friends.

"It's people using common sense and taking care of their pets," she said.