NEW HAVEN, Conn. — The heat is on its way to Connecticut, and pets need to be kept a close eye on to make sure they stay safe during the heatwaves.
Here are some steps recommended by the Humane Society of the United States to help keep your four-legged friend safe this summer.
- Never leave your pet in a parked car, even with the engine running and the air conditioning on.
- On an 85-degree day, the temperature inside a car with the windows slightly open can reach 102 degrees within 10 minutes. After 30 minutes, the temperature reaches 120 degrees.
- Limiting physical activity
- Adjust the intensity and duration of your exercise depending on the temperature.
- On very hot days, limit exercise to early morning or evening, and be especially careful with white-eared pets, which are more susceptible to skin cancer, and short-nosed pets, which may have difficulty breathing.
- Protect your feet
- Asphalt can get very hot and can burn your pet’s paws, so walk your dog on the grass if possible.
- Don’t rely on fans
- Pets react to heat differently than humans do – for example, dogs sweat primarily through their paws.
Signs of heat stroke in pets
- I’m out of breath
- Rapid heart and breathing rates
- Body temperature over 104 degrees
- Excessive shortness of breath
- Drooling
- Seizures
- vomiting
- Bright red or purple tongue
- Unconscious
According to the Humane Society, animals are at particular risk of heatstroke if they are very old, very young, overweight, not used to prolonged exercise or have cardiac or respiratory conditions.
Some dog breeds, such as Boxers, Pugs, Shih Tzus, and other short-nosed dogs and cats, have great difficulty breathing in extreme heat.
Treating pets with heatstroke
- Move your pet to a shady or air-conditioned area
- Apply ice packs, cold towels, or cool (but not too cold) water to your head, neck, and chest.
- Give them small amounts of cold water to drink or ice to suck on
- Take him to the vet immediately