BENTONVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Summer is here which means warmer temperatures are sticking around, tempting people to stay outside longer with their furry friends, but it’s important to protect your pets from the heat.
“If you’re uncomfortable, if you feel hot, your pet feels even hotter,” said Linda DeBerry, senior marketing specialist Best Friends Pet Resource Center.
If you are out hiking on the trails with your dog, be sure to bring plenty of cool water.
“So, keep a big bottle, keep one of those collapsible bowls and you can pour that full of water wherever you are. Dogs will not drink hot water no matter what, no matter how thirsty they are,” said DeBerry.
According to DeBerry, there are signs of heat exhaustion in pets you can look for.
“They might get a little bit lethargic. They’re going to start panting really hard. They might have a bright red tongue, bright red ears,” said DeBerry.
DeBerry says you should not shave your dog’s fur. She says many people think this will keep them cooler during summer.
“The dogs that have those double coats, that inside coat holds air and helps them regulate their body temperature. So, if that’s gone, they can actually overheat because they won’t have that inner area of air,” said DeBerry.
DeBerry says overheating is very serious for both animals and humans. If you believe your dog is overheating or faints from overheating you should take them to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
