Summertips

Summer is a time of fun and play for your pet but it is also a time
for sun and plenty of it! Too much exposure to the heat in the summer time can
be harmful to your pet so be cautious and play safe. Here are some tips to keep
in mind during these dog days of summer:

- Never leave your pet alone in a vehicle—hyperthermia can be fatal. Even with
the windows open, a parked automobile can quickly become a furnace in no time.
Parking in the shade offers little protection, as the sun shifts during the day.

- Always carry a gallon thermos filled with cold, fresh water when traveling with
your pet.

- The right time for playtime is in the cool of the early morning or evening, but
never after a meal or when the weather is humid.

- Street smarts: When the temperature is very high, don’t let your dog standing
on hot asphalt. His or her body can heat up quickly, and sensitive paw pads can
burn. Keep walks during these times to a minimum.

- Provide fresh water and plenty of shade for animals kept outdoors; a properly
constructed doghouse serves best. Bring your dog or cat inside during the heat
of the day to rest in a cool part of the house.

- Be especially sensitive to older and overweight animals in hot weather.
Brachycephalic or snub-nosed dogs such as bulldogs, pugs, Boston terriers,
Lhasa apsos and shih tzus, as well as those with heart or lung diseases, should
be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.

- Good grooming can stave off summer skin problems, especially for dogs with
heavy coats. Say no to tangles. Keeping your pet well groomed will help their hair
do what it was designed to do: protect them from the sun and insulate them from
the heat. If they have extremely thick hair or a lot of mats and tangles, their fur
may trap too much heat, so you may want to clip them. Shaving the hair to a one-
inch length—never down to the skin, please, which robs them of protection from
the sun—helps prevent overheating. Cats should be brushed often.

- Be cautious on humid days. Humidity interferes with animals' ability to rid
themselves of excess body heat. When we overheat we sweat, and when the
sweat dries it takes excess heat with it. Our four-legged friends only perspire
around their paws, which is not enough to cool the body. To rid themselves of
excess heat, animals pant. Air moves through the nasal passages, which picks up
excess heat from the body. As it is expelled through the mouth, the extra heat
leaves along with it. Although this is a very efficient way to control body heat, it is
severely limited in areas of high humidity or when the animal is in close quarters.

- Keep an eye out for heatstroke. Heatstroke is a medical emergency. If you
suspect your pet has heatstroke (see "Signs of Heatstroke,"below), you must act
quickly and calmly. Have someone call a veterinarian immediately. In the
meantime, lower the animal's body temperature by applying towels soaked in cool
water to the hairless areas of the body. Often the pet will respond after only a few
minutes of cooling, only to falter again with his temperature soaring back up or
falling to well below what is normal. With this in mind, remember that it is
imperative to get the animal to a veterinarian immediately. Once your pet is in the
veterinarian's care, treatment may include further cooling techniques,
intravenous fluid therapy to counter shock, or medication to prevent or reverse
brain damage.

Even with emergency treatment, heatstroke can be fatal. The best cure is
prevention, Fido and Fluffy are relying on you to keep them out of harm's way.
Summer does not have to be fraught with peril-with ample precaution, both you
and your furry friends can enjoy those long, hot dog-days of summer.

Signs of Heatstroke
 Panting
 Staring
 Anxious expression
 Refusal to obey commands
 Warm, dry skin
 High fever (>103 degrees Fahrenheit)
 Rapid heartbeat
 Vomiting
 Collapse

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