Keeping Pets Cool

With the outside temperatures getting close to triple digits, it’s important to remember our four-legged friends and the proper way to ensure their safety in the summer heat. A rule of thumb to remember: if you’re hot, so are they. Both dogs and cats don’t have sweat glands like people do. Panting is their only way of staying cool. Their internal temperature is also higher than ours, so it’s easier for them to overheat.

The first thing that is absolutely necessary to keeping your pet cool is making sure it has plenty of water. One of my cats prefers staying outside so I make sure that she has plenty of water and food outside. A pretty cool idea for a dog is getting a T-shirt, soaking it in cold water, and draping it around your dog’s neck to keep them cool. If you must leave them outside, make sure they have a place where there is plenty of shade and not a dog house because it doesn’t have good wind circulation. 

Leaving your dog outside in the midday heat is not recommended either. Taking them on walks can also be dangerous because of how hot the concrete gets. If you need to walk them, do it in the morning or after sunset to avoid burning their paws. Another important rule is to never leave your animal in a parked car. According to the CDC, “cars parked in direct sunlight can reach internal temperature up to 131 to 172 degrees Fahrenheit when it’s 80 to 100 degrees outside.”

Dogs can get a heatstroke if their body temperature gets above 104 degrees. Signs of a heat stroke in dogs include excessive panting, salivating, drooping tail and ears, vomiting, diarrhea, disorientation, and seizures. If you think your pet has had a heatstroke, move them to the shade and apply ice packs wrapped in towels to their head or run cool, not cold, water over them. Get them to a vet after you have gotten their temperature back down.

The best bet is to leave your pet in the house if you have to go away for an extended period of time, like work or grocery shopping. No one should be exposed to this Texas heat for extended periods of time that aren’t used to it. Drink plenty of water and help keep you and your pet cool this summer!

Citation: https://www.purina.com/articles/dog/care/6-tips-how-to-keep-dogs-cool