Seattle Humane would like to remind pet owners to keep their furry friends safe during the hot weather season. Here are some simple steps to help keep your pets safe and cool!
Never leave your pet alone inside a parked car.
Even in Seattle, the interior of a car can quickly reach a dangerous 120 degrees. Plan your trips carefully so that pets can stay with you or home in a temperature-controlled environment. Even leaving your dog for “just a minute” may be too long. A dog’s normal body temperature ranges from 101 to 102.5 degrees. Dogs can withstand a body temperature of 107 to 108 degrees for only a very short period of time before suffering brain damage—or even death.
Exercise dogs during the coolest times of the day: either in the morning or evening.
Avoid walking your dog during the hottest times of the day. Hot pavement can burn pet’s paw pads. You can test hot the payment by placing the back of your hand on it, if it is too for you it is too hot for your pets paws.
Heat stroke develops rapidly and can lead to severe problems like organ failure and even death. Pets with shorter noses, like bulldogs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heatstroke than breeds with longer noses as there is less area for heat to evaporate. Make sure your pets have access to fresh water and can rest if they become too warm. Offer your pets indoor enrichment opportunities and frozen treats.
Signs of heat stroke in a pet include heavy panting, agitation, glazed eyes, rapid pulse, staggering, vomiting and a deep red or purple tongue. If an animal becomes overheated, place him in a cool place and apply cool (not cold) water all over his body. Apply ice packs or cold towels only to the head, neck and chest. Let him drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes and take him immediately to a veterinarian. DO NOT wait to see if your pet improves – it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
