HARRISBURG (TNS) Pennsylvania is supposed to suffer through a heat wave this week. The heat doesn’t just hit humans; dogs can struggle as well, even having heat stroke or burns.
Here are some pointers for keeping dogs and other pets safe:
Know the signs of heatstroke. Excessive panting, ignoring commands, increased heart or breathing rates, drooling, weakness, collapse, vomiting and fever of 104 degrees Fahrenheit or higher are all signs of heat stroke. If you have concerns about heat stroke, immediately contact a veterinarian.
Don’t over-trim your dog’s fur. Long-haired or double-coated breeds can do with some trimming, but a dog’s coat actually helps protect it against heat and also guards against sunburn, insects and other irritants. Leaving an inch of hair is usually a good rule of thumb, but resist the urge to shave your dog to the skin to help keep them cool.
Make sure the pet has proper shade. A dog house might seem like a good place to cool off, but an enclosed and unventilated space actually traps heat.
Provide fresh water at all times. Dogs dehydrate easily, so keep cool water in bowls inside, outside, and in your vehicle if traveling with your dog.
Be more cautious in humid conditions. Humidity can interfere with animals’ ability to regulate their own temperature by panting or limited excretions through the paws.
Bring them inside more often. Be careful not to exhaust your dogs with too much exercise in hot weather, and keeping them inside as much as possible to cool off is a good idea. Under Pennsylvania’s Libre’s Law, dogs may be tied outside for no more than 30 minutes when temperatures are higher than 90 degrees.
Keep animals off of hot asphalt. You know how hot sand can be when you walk on it barefoot at the beach? Now imagine how hot black pavement can get for your dog’s feet – especially for extended walks. To avoid burning a dog’s paw pads, stay on the grass. If it’s too hot for bare feet, it’s too hot for bare paws.
Exercise early (or late). Walks and runs are best reserved for the cooler early morning or later evening. It’s also good advice for humans, obviously.
Never leave your animals alone in a parked vehicle. Most people know that cars get extremely hot while sitting in sunlight, particularly with the windows up. But there is still danger of intense heat even if the windows are cracked. If you are traveling and for some reason would need to keep your dog in the vehicle, it’s probably a better idea to leave them at home.
Travel prepared. If you’re bringing a dog on a vacation or road trip, it never hurts to have some extra water in a cooler, portable fans or doggie mats with cooling agents in case of emergency. If your car breaks down or AC suddenly conks out, both you and your dog will probably appreciate these items.
Do not leave pets unattended around swimming pools. Not all dogs are naturally good swimmers.
Watch out for chlorine and salt. If your dog does take a dip in the pool, rinse them off afterwards to make sure their coat is clean of compounds that can further dry them out. And make sure they don’t drink water with those things in it, obviously.
