Keep Your Pet Safe in the Hot Weather

By CHARLENE ARSENAULT (Patch Staff)

As the summer heats up, so do concerns about safety, and that includes our pets.

While awareness is increasing about the dangers of leaving a pet in a hot car, there are still cases each year - some with deadly consequences.

As the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Boston reminds us, animals are very sensitive to high temperatures, making it critically important to monitor pets and provide them with plenty of shade and water.

“Dogs with short snouts such as pugs and bulldogs are more susceptible to breathing difficulty in hot weather,” said MSPCA spokesperson Rob Halpin. “Pets should never be left in the car because even in 80-degree weather the inside temperature can soar to in 110 degrees in just 10 minutes.”

The MSPCA’s Angell Memorial Hospital veterinarians offer the follow recommendations for keeping pets safe during summertime heat waves:

* Walk pets in the early morning or late evening when the sun is low and temperatures are cooler

* Walk dogs on softer ground such as dirt trails or grass instead of hot blacktop or cement sidewalks, which can burn their paws

* Make sure dogs always have plenty of shade in which to rest outside. The shade provided by trees is ideal, particularly if there is soft grass or dirt underneath, on which they can relax

* Always provide plenty of fresh clean water for dogs

* Keep pets inside in the coolest parts of the home during the most intense heat waves

Pet owners should immediately contact their veterinarian should pets exhibit any signs of heat stroke such as excessive panting, vomiting, intense fatigue, loss of appetite or lethargy. For more information about summertime safety tips readers can consult the MSPCA.

Photo via MSPCA