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How to take care
of your dog or puppy thru the dog days of summer heat
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Keep your dog or puppy healthy thru the summer
heat.
- Water, water
and more water. Whether you're
indoors or out, your pet needs access to lots of fresh water and shade all day during the summer, so check that water bowl
several times a day to be sure it's full of fresh cool water. If you and your pet venture forth for the afternoon, take
plenty of water for both of you. Remember to keep water in the shade not in the sun.
- Never leave your
pet in the car. In
nice weather you may be tempted to take your pet
with you in the car while you travel or do errands. Though it may seem like its
cool outside, the sun can raise the temperature inside your car to 120
degrees in a matter of minutes, even with the windows rolled down (an then
someone may take them also). If you need to run some errands, this means
leave the furry ones at home. Want to help educate others about the dangers of leaving pets in
hot cars? During the summer
months (May through September) The HSUS has
educational posters available for purchase ($3 for 10, $5 for 25) that
store managers can post inside their windows to remind shoppers that
"Leaving Your Pet in a Parked Car Can be a Deadly Mistake". In
addition, 4" x 9" two-sided flyers are also available (50 for
$3.00). To order please send a check, your mailing address and the number
of posters or flyers that you would like to receive to the following
address: HSUS/Hot Cars,
2100 L Street, NW,
Washington,
DC
20037. You can also receive a free sample flyer by
sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the above address.
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If a dog shows symptoms of
heatstroke, take steps to gradually lower there body temperature immediately. Follow these tips,
and it could save her life:
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Move the animal into the
shade or an air-conditioned area.
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Apply ice packs or cold towels to her head,
neck, and chest or immerse it in cool (not cold) water.
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Let it drink small amounts
of cool water or lick ice cubes.
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Take it directly
to a veterinarian.
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- Watch out for humid days. Just like us, humidity
interferes with animals' ability to rid themselves
of excess body heat. When we overheat we sweat,
and when the sweat dries it takes excess heat with it. Dogs only perspire
around their paws, and that is not enough to cool the body. To help rid themselves of excess heat, dogs pant. Air moves through
the nasal passages, which picks up excess heat from the body. As it is expelled through the mouth, the extra heat leaves
along with it. Although this is a very efficient way to control body heat,
it is severely limited in areas of high humidity or when
the animal is in close quarters.
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- Bring them inside. Dogs shouldn't
be left outside unsupervised on long, hot days, even in the shade. They
can dump there water over and, Shade can move throughout the afternoon,
and pets can become ill quickly if they overheat, so keep them inside as
much as possible. If you must leave your pet in the backyard, keep a close
eye on them and bring them in when you can. And
never take a inside dog and move them out all at once.
- Watch out for antifreeze. Hot weather may tempt your
pet to drink from puddles in the street (that is not go), which can
contain antifreeze and other chemicals. Antifreeze has a sweet taste that
dogs and cats like, but it's extremely toxic. They
may also be looking for shade and fall asleep under cars. When you're walking your pet, make sure that they don't
sneak a drink from the street. Dogs and cats even birds will drink
antifreeze any time as it had a good sweet taste to them, but it is very very toxic to them, and will kill them in a very
painful death.
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I am still working on this
page I will be adding to it as I get time so check back
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