10 tips for keeping pets safe in extreme summer temperatures

With most of Iowa experiencing extremely hot temperatures, it’s vital for pet owners to understand how heat affects their animals. Follow these simple tips to ensure your beloved pet enjoys – and survives – the hottest time of the year.

1. If it’s above 70 degrees Fahrenheit, leave your pet at home! Temperatures inside cars can reach fatal levels within minutes. Even with the windows cracked, the interior of a car can quickly reach 99 degrees Fahrenheit or hotter when it’s only 80 degrees Fahrenheit outside.

If you see a pet (or child) alone in a car, call authorities immediately. Your call could save a life.

• Within Des Moines: Call Des Moines Police Dispatch at (515) 283-4811.
• Outside of Des Moines: Call your local law enforcement number.

2. Limit time spent outdoors. On very hot days, limit your pets’ outside time to potty breaks only. The ARL strongly recommends that outdoor pets be brought indoors to a cool area during these extreme temperatures.

Dogs must have access to adequate shelter (properly insulated), food, water, and veterinary care, but in extreme heat, additional accommodations may be necessary to prevent a pet from being in distress. On cooler days, your pet can be outside more often, but be sure they have access to fresh water and shade at all times.

3. Prevent sunburns. Ear tips, the bridge of the nose, around the eyes, and the abdomen are all sensitive areas on a dog’s skin. Keep dogs out of direct sunlight and consider using sunscreen for dogs. This also helps prevent other heat-related problems.

4. Ensure access to fresh, cool water. Water saves lives. If there are community/feral cats or wildlife in your neighborhood, set out a bowl of fresh, cool water for them as well. Many bodies of water in Iowa are not safe for animals to drink. This is especially true during summer when blue-green algae is present.

5. Always supervise animals around water. Not all dogs are good swimmers. Supervise your pet at all times, and consider using a life jacket for your dog.

6. Avoid hot cement or asphalt. Make sure to walk your dog during the coolest parts of the day (early morning and late evening), and don’t overdo it. It’s much easier to overheat in high temperatures. Also, be sure to feel the cement with the back of your hand before walking your dog on it. If you can’t keep your hand pressed to the cement for five seconds, it’s too hot for your pet’s paws and can cause burns and blistering.

7. Understand your pet’s breed. Certain animals are more sensitive to heat. Brachycephalic (short-nosed) dogs and cats are especially susceptible to heat-related problems. Domestic rabbits can also struggle to maintain their body temperatures, especially when left outdoors in enclosed cages.

8. Update microchip information. Permanent ID (microchip) with current owner information and an emergency backup contact can save pets if they are lost, injured, or found in distress during extreme weather.

9. Keep auto coolant out of reach. This is something that should be done year-round, but summertime is when coolant puddles are more likely. Do not let your dog or any other animal ingest auto coolant. It’s poisonous!

10. Ask before you shave your dog’s coat. Always consult with your groomer before clipping or shaving your dog’s coat. Even though your pet may look hot, their coat actually protects them from getting sunburned. Brushing your pet regularly can help get rid of any loose hairs and allow for better air circulation.

Animal Rescue League Main is a pet-friendly cooling station. Anyone who needs relief from the heat with their pets can come to ARL Main (5452 NE 22nd St. Des Moines) during normal adoption hours (Monday through Friday from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.).

About Animal Rescue League of Iowa

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is Iowa’s largest nonprofit animal shelter, caring for many thousands of pets each year. The ARL strives to serve people and pets in the community through programs and services designed to promote animal welfare, to address the reasons animals end up in shelters, to find forever adoptive homes for the animals in their care, and to help keep pets in homes with the people who love them.

For more information about the ARL, visit ARL-Iowa.org.