Hello all! Dr. Lavin here with an announcement about keeping pets happy, healthy, and safe this summer. We’ve been in a bit of a heat wave lately and it’s super important to keep our furry friends in mind! Heat stroke is all too common and can very quickly become deadly. Here are some helpful tips to minimize risk of heat stroke in your dogs and cats…?
❗️ Make sure they have access to fresh, cool water at all times! This is an important way to help keep dogs hydrated as well as cool, especially in the summer months. You may need to keep a closer eye on the water dish as many pets will finish off their water bowl quicker in these hot days. ?
❗️Make sure wherever they are kept during the day stays cool! Keeping the house around 77 degrees max should ensure our dogs and cats stay safe. Use of fans and air conditioning can help keep the house cool for them. With thick fur coats, they cannot tolerate as hot of temperatures as we can. If you’re hot, your pet is DEFINITELY too hot! ?
❗️Be sure to allow time for breaks between exercise. Hiking with your dog can be fun, but it’s important to allow some rest time for dogs so they do not become overheated. Take frequent breaks and bring water and a water dish along for the hike. ?
❗️If your dog is brachycephalic (meaning has a short, flat nose… such as a pug, English bulldog, French bulldog, Boston terrier, and many others), it is important to know they are even higher risk for heat stroke than other dogs. It is very easy for them to get overheated and get heat stroke. Due to their anatomy, they have a harder time keeping cool. ?
❗️Never, EVER leave a dog in a hot car! If it is over 70 degrees outside, it is TOO HOT for a dog or cat to be left in a car (yes, EVEN WITH THE WINDOWS CRACKED). It gets up to dangerous temperatures within minutes and is a cause of death in too many animals each year. ?
‼️ And finally, if you are concerned your dog may be overheated or have heat stroke, get them to a veterinarian right away! Prior to bringing them, hosing them down in cool water and putting rubbing alcohol on their paw pads frequently can help bring their temperature down. ?
