Tips To Keep Your Pet Safe During The Hot Summer

August 8, 2011

The Escambia County Animal Shelter is offering tips to keep your pets safe this summer:

From unpredictable weather to unusual routines, household animals are exposed to all sorts of hazards during June, July and August and your pets are counting on you to keep them safe.

Do not leave pets in the yard without plenty of shade and water. Even the healthiest pets can suffer from dehydration, heat stroke and sunburn if overexposed to the heat.

Also, never leave your dog, cat or any other animal friend alone in a car. The inside of a car can heat up very quickly—even with an open window. When it’s 85 degrees outside, the temperature inside a car, even with the windows opened slightly, can reach 102 degrees in just 10 minutes. After 30 minutes the vehicle becomes a deadly 120 degrees. Cracking the windows provides an insignificant effect on both the rate of heating and the final temperature.

Recognize the symptoms of animal heatstroke:

  • Heavy panting
  • Dizziness
  • Lethargy
  • Glazed eyes
  • Lack of coordination
  • Vomiting
  • Excessive thirst
  • Profuse salivation
  • Unconsciousness

If your pet exhibits any of the symptoms, immediately move the animal into the shade or an air-conditioned area. Gradually apply ice packs or cold towels to the animal’s head, neck and chest or slowly immerse it in cool (not cold) water.  Let your pet drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes.  Then take it directly to a veterinarian.

If you see a pet in a parked vehicle or penned and/or tethered without sufficient shade and water – call your local law enforcement or the Escambia County Animal Control Office at (850) 595-0097.

Stay cool near the pool. Do not leave pets unsupervised around a pool or body of water—not all dogs are expert swimmers.

Other tips for keeping animals safe include, avoid lathering your pet with any insect repellent or sunscreen not intended for animals. Keep your pet away from matches, citronella candles and lighter fluid, which if eaten can irritate the stomach, lungs and central nervous system.

From hurricanes to floods, we’ve seen the devastation severe weather has brought to pets and their families. Develop an evacuation plan well ahead of time in case you’re forced from your home in an emergency.

NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

4 Responses to “Tips To Keep Your Pet Safe During The Hot Summer”

  1. mom on August 9th, 2011 3:52 pm

    I want to get a kiddie pool to put in the shade at my house for my dog to get in, but with it being so hot, im afraid of snakes crawling into it….i keep soaking my dog with cool water from the hose…he LOVES it! I HATE to see people riding their dogs around in the back too, you know the bed of that pickup gets really hot on the pads of their feet and then if they leave them in the back while they go inside somewhere, you know it gets ridicuously hot. Kepp them at home either inside or keep your air on in your truck and put them inside. Would you want to be left on the back of a HOT truck???

  2. 429SCJ on August 8th, 2011 8:17 pm

    Please do not ride your dogs, on the back of your p/u truck bed or tool box. I know this is so very cool, but so very dangerous to your pet.

  3. Jane on August 8th, 2011 7:41 pm

    Often people forget that their pets need extra water, so I always put 2 bowls of water out, (for each animal) spaced apart, in case one gets knocked over.That way they have water, if it is really hot I put ice cubes in the water so it is cooler. The ice cubes melt but it keeps the water a little cooler for them. Thank you for all the information and for putting this on NE.com!!!

  4. AL on August 8th, 2011 12:46 am

    Thanks for putting this out, William (and ESCOAC)

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Features, News