Unless Fido’s doghouse came complete with air conditioning, pet owners should be taking some extra precaution to protect their four-legged friends from the effects of sustained, unusually high temperatures.
While we humans have a natural option to keep our body temperature regulated – skin that sweats in a lot of places to cool us via evaporation – that perspiration/evaporation cooling process in dogs and cats is limited to the bottom of their paw pads and panting. That means they actually can’t tolerate the heat as well as we can.
Happily, there are easy ways to prevent heat sickness and death in pets, the most basic being to keep them inside on very hot days and leave the air conditioning on if you leave them in while you’re out. Avoid taking them with you in the car. Even if you’re parked in the shade with windows cracked the heat can still be deadly.
If the dog lives outside and has a doghouse, make sure it’s in a shaded area and not out in direct sun where it becomes a little oven instead of a shelter. Every dog living outside will need access to cool shade. Make sure lots of water is always available, indoors and out. Hydration is key.
And forget the buzz cut! Those fur coats actually provide heat relief. Depending on the breed, some dogs have an undercoat that acts like insulation, keeping the animal from excessive cold in the winter and from overheating in the summer. The ASPCA warns, “Robbing your dog or cat of this natural cooling system can lead to discomfort, overheating and other serious dangers like sunburn or skin cancer.”
Cole Wakefield, executive director at the Good Shepherd Animal Shelter, also suggests that some breeds can benefit from a summer cut to make long hair more manageable but says it’s best to research your dog’s coat style and consult a knowledgeable, professional groomer for best summer maintenance.
The best option is to frequently bathe your dog and brush its fur since clean, brushed fur allows for better air circulation. Never shave your dog.
In very high temps, don’t let your dog linger on hot asphalt or pavement. Being close to the ground, its body can heat up quickly, and paw pads can burn. Keep walks during these times to a minimum and go for early morning or sunset times.
Wakefield commented that most pet heat deaths he’s seen personally “have been from great dog owners who didn’t realize they were overheating their dog on a walk until it was too late. Even light exercise at extreme temps can be enough to put a dog in danger.”
One way to cool down that’s good for both dogs and their owners is water play. Having a baby pool to play in under some shade is a good idea, and even a few minutes under the hose does wonders. In fact, spritzing your dog throughout the day will help keep him cool as the water evaporates. You may see cats grooming more often in high temperatures for that same reason, wetting their fur to enjoy the cooling benefits of evaporation. A cooling blanket to lie on is also a good option.
Panting in both dogs and cats is part of their cooling mechanism, but rapid, excessive panting can be a sign of overheating. Other symptoms include weakness, stumbling, confusion, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, drooling, stupor or even collapse. In this case, cool the body down with cool water, apply cool towels, give small drinks of water and contact a vet.
Animals with flat faces, like Pugs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heat stroke since they cannot pant as effectively. These and pets that are old, overweight, or have heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.
Good information