AS THE MERCURY RISES, FIDO NEEDS SPECIAL CARE!!!(Phoenix, May 14, 2007) – Summer is coming, even though it seems as if it has already arrived. We know how warm we all get in the summer months. Now imagine if you were wearing a fur coat. Each summer Maricopa County Animal Care and Control (MCACC) receives hundreds of calls about pets being left outside with no shade or water. Many of these animals lose their lives due to the extreme temperatures. Here are some easy things you can do to help them feel more comfortable during the long days of summer.
Walk your dog in the early morning or evening hours. Pavement gets very hot during the day and can burn the pads on their paws. Also, your dog is much closer to the ground and that heat. If you and your pet are going out in the sun, put sunscreen on his sensitive areas (the tips of his ears, his nose).
Never leave your pet in the car, even if it’s parked in the shade. Temperatures inside cars can get up to 150 degrees quickly. Watch out for coolant leaking from your car. It has a sweet smell and animals are attracted to it. It could kill them.
Ensure your pet has adequate shade (for the entire day) if left outside. Also be sure to have some water in a tip-proof container that is also in a shaded area. If your pet does show signs of heat exhaustion, cool him down slowly with a cool rag. Do not submerge him in water. Take him immediately to a veterinarian for follow up care.
Monitor your cat for hair balls and brush her if she seems to have excess hair. Get your dog groomed. Have your cat and dog checked and treated for fleas and ticks, which are especially problematic in the hot summer months.
Take extra care of old or overweight animals in hot weather. Snub-nosed dogs (Bulldogs, Pekingese, Boston Terriors, Lhasa Apsos and Shih Tzus) and those with heart or lung disease should be kept indoors in air-conditioning as much as possible. These animals have a difficult time regulating their body temperature.
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