With dangerously high temperatures expected to continue across much of the southwest United States, the ASPCA wants to warn pet owners how important it is to keep their animals safe and protected from the heat.
Tips
•Dogs and cats can become dehydrated quickly, so give them plenty of water when it’s hot outdoors. In extreme heat, try to save the longer walks for the coolest parts of the day, i.e. early in the morning or late at night
•Make sure your pets have a shady place to escape the sun if they are outside, be careful not to over-exercise them, and keep them indoors when it’s extremely hot.
•Pet owners should never leave their animals unattended in a parked vehicle. Parked cars, even with windows open, become very hot in a short amount of time, and this can lead to heatstroke or death. On an 85-degree day, it takes only 10 minutes for the inside of your car to reach 102 degrees, even with the windows cracked an inch or two; and in 30 minutes, the inside of a locked car can reach 120 degrees.
•The symptoms of overheating in pets can include an increased heart rate, drooling, excessive panting or difficulty breathing, mild weakness, seizures and an elevated body temperature (over 104 degrees).
•Elderly, overweight, and pets with heart or lung diseases are more susceptible to heatstroke. Pets with short muzzles like pugs, bulldogs and Persian cats become overheated because they cannot effectively pant. These pets should be kept in air conditioning to stay cool.
Pet owners can access additional information about how to protect your pets in hot weather on the ASPCA website: www.aspca.org/pet-care/hot-weather-tips.
We also have a valuable infographic that you can share with your audiences: www.aspcapro.org/sites/default/files/hot-cars-infographic-061815.pdf
