With the school year ending and temperatures rising, we should be aware about the effects of summer on our pets -- enduring the heat without a voice to set limits.
Here are a couple of rules for pet owners to always be aware of in the summer:
First, never leave your dogs in a parked, locked car. The temperatures in a car are drastically different from the outside weather. For example, if the weather is 85 degrees, inside the car the temperature can rise to 102 degrees in only ten minutes, and it only increases from then on. That could lead to a dog suffering from organ damage or dying. In some cars, including Teslas, there is a function called Pet Mode which lets your dog be in the car with the air conditioning system on.
Additionally, one of the main components of taking care of your pet is walking them. Although this might be tough for some highly active dogs, owners should limit exercise on warmer days. This includes walking them in the morning or night when the temperature is cooler out. As you walk them be sure not to step on too much asphalt as it gets hotter in the heat which could burn your pets paws, grass is a safer option for walks. A water bottle for dogs is great to keep around as well as you walk them, there are a couple linked down below so your pet will not be dehydrated.
As humans become cooler around fans, pets do not adapt as well, as they sweat through their feet. Shade and ice water are better options for them to cool down by rubbing the cold fluids on their neck and chest.
Lastly, to make sure your dog is okay in the heat, some signs to beware of if your dog is suffering a heatstroke include heaving panting, glazed eyes, a rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, excessive thirst, lethargy, fever, dizziness, wobbling, increased salivation, vomiting, dark red or purple tongue, seizures, and unconsciousness.
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