How to Keep Your Pets Safe From the Heat

By Eric Kane, DVM

As the heat of the season becomes more intense, we need to learn how to keep our pets cool. This column is a re-run from last year.

While there are several heat and summer related issues that can affect our pets, the most serious is heat stroke. This is a potentially life threatening condition due to overheating, which often can be quite preventable. When a pet overheats, their body starts shutting down in a sometimes irreversible way. The first sign may be seemingly harmless panting, but before long, your pet may collapse or begin seizing. Unless immediate care is given, and even then, despite great efforts, your pet can possibly die. 

That is why preventing heat stroke from occurring by avoiding specific situations is key. As a general rule, never place your pet in a situation if you have ANY hesitation that it may be too hot.  If you think it might be too hot, it is!  If you think it might just be okay, it is too hot! 

So, although these situations to avoid are already known by many pet parents, we still treat several cases of heat stroke every summer. So here is a reminder for all of us to keep our pets cool during the hot summer months, and this applies whenever it is over 80 degrees.

• DO NOT keep your pet in direct sunlight

• DO NOT keep your pet in a car with no running air conditioning (even if the windows are rolled down –even if it is ‘just for a few minutes’)

• DO NOT keep your pet indoors/in a garage with no air conditioning/air flow

• DO NOT over-exercise your pet (even if you can run that mile, they may not)

• DO exercise your pet before the sun rises and after it sets

• DO keep fresh, clean, cool water plentiful and available at all times

• DO provide access to shaded areas if outdoors (even then, be careful when very hot)

 ***EXTRA CAUTION for the following pets:

• breeds naturally limited in their airflow intake (commonly referred to as ‘smooshed face’ breeds). They can also suffer from a condition called 'upper airway obstruction' related to heat and/or over-exercise/excitement

• in pets with conditions that limit their airflow intake (laryngeal paralysis, collapsing trachea, any throat/airway condition). These pets can also suffer from a condition called 'upper airway obstruction' related to heat and/or over-exercise/excitement

• in pets with conditions/taking meds that cause them to dehydrate more easily (chronic kidney disease, untreated/uncontrolled diabetes, cushing's disease, hyperthyroidism, diuretic medication)

• in older, larger breeds (labs and golden retrievers commonly affected)

If your pet appears to be overheating (excessive panting, collapse/seizing), seek immediate veterinary care.  If you cannot get immediate care, give your pet a cool bath (NOT COLD–NO ICE), especially cooling the head and body. But if your pet is not responding, they need care right away.