Summer is here and in full swing, and with that comes the hottest days of the year. You know how miserable it makes you feel sometimes, but do you think about how your pet feels? Excessive heat can majorly affect them as well, and definitely affects some breeds more than others. Even at temperatures in the low to mid 80's can cause a problem for some animals. Do you know some of the signs to look for? Listed below are just a few:
*One tell-tell sign that your pet is overheating, is really fast panting and excessive drooling. If you're seeing this, chances are your dog is over-heated and could possibly be close to having a stroke. Seek shade or get your pet inside immediately and give him or her a chance to cool down. Make sure they have something cool to drink....Not hot water that's been sitting outside half the day! Get them fresh water. Keep an eye on them if you see any strange or abnormal behavior, get them to your vet immediately.
*Another thing, never ever leave your pet in your in the summertime....Windows cracked or not! Even with your windows cracked, there just isn't enough fresh air to circulate and the temps still soar when the engine isn't running...And you definitely don't want to leave your engine running with your pet inside and unattended.
*If your pet has very long, or even really thick fur, you may consider trimming them down for the hotter months. Notice how I didn't not say to Shave your pet. I've seen this done and it is totally unnecessary, unless your pet is just a tangled mess. But you need to leave some fur on your pet as to prevent sunburn...yes, your 4-legged friend can get a sunburn if he has no fur or a way to protect his skin. The fur is there for a reason, and that is just one of many. Trim him or her down just enough to look or help make them feel comfortable.
*If you lead an active lifestyle, there's no reason why your pet can't live one either, but during the hot summer months, try to do your walking or jogging in the early morning or early evening hours. This will be better for you as well as for your pet.
*If you leave your dog outside while you're at work all day, and you simply aren't home to change their water out several times a day, you can also freeze one or two bowls the night before and simply place in or near a shaded area and they should last longer than just having one bowl for him or her for the entire day. Chances are that one bowl doesn't even last them until mid-day, so make sure you have more than one.
These are just some tips to help guide you through the summer time months. A healthy pet is a happy pet, and when your pet is happy, chances are you'll be happy too. ;^)
NOTE: I am not a licensed Veternarian, but I have been in the animal care field for a few years and have had many animals over the course of my life. I'm constantly reading and researching many different animal behaviours, both domestic and exotic, but by no means an expert. If you have any questions or any problems at all, please contact your own personal Vet. or your nearest Animal Emergency hospital or animal shelter.
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