Pet Safety and Summer

Summer can be fun, but it can also be dangerous and sometimes deadly to pets. Extreme hot weather and pets do not always mix. Pet owners need to be sensitive to their pets' surroundings and resources. As a pet owner, it is important to consider your pets' safety as their environment changes.

In a car, whether you are stopping off at the local grocery market or going across country to the coast, many factors need to be considered when you make your pet your travel partner. According to The American Humane Association, never leave your pets in a parked car. On a hot day, the inside of a car can quickly reach 160 degrees. Even ten minutes could be hazardous to your pet. Under those conditions, a dog can be overcome by heat stroke. Since pets do not perspire, but cool themselves by panting, having only hot air to breathe can cause them to suffer from permanent brain damage. "If emergency care is not given, your pets could die. They may want to come along, but it's much kinder to leave your pets at home with plenty of fresh cool water and shade," states the AHA. They also recommend that if the pet is staying at home to make advanced reservations with a veterinary clinic, a reputable kennel, pet sitter, or responsible friend. For more information, access Pets In Need Link.

Summer Pet Tips recommends that if you must take Rover with you, do not transport him in the back of a pick-up truck. Not only may your pet be injured because of inadequate restraints or none at all, but foreign objects may be blown into your pet's eyes. Eye injury may also occur if pets are allowed to hang their heads out the window of a car. Another hazard to pets, forced to ride in the back of a pick-up, are the pads of their feet may be burned by heat created from the back of the metal pick-up bed, which is constantly exposed to the sun. Access the Summer Pet Tips Link for more information.

Every year pets are overcome by heat stroke. According to Mercy Crusade, symptoms include panting, increased pulse, bright red gums, and high body temperature (105 - 110 degrees). Later signs of heat stroke are stupor, shock, pale gums, vomiting, and diarrhea. In the final stages, a dog goes into a coma and stops breathing. For first aid, they recommend moving the dog to a cool ventilated area, give CPR, if necessary, giving your dog a cold or ice water bath (On other web pages, cold water at first is not recommended. It is my understanding it should be a more gradual cooling. Check this recommendation with your vet before attempting.), taking a rectal temperature every 10 minutes, treating for shock, not giving aspirin, and getting your dog to a veterinarian. For more information, access the Mercy Crusade Link: Hot Car Danger.

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