Our pets give us unconditional love, unending snuggles, and lots of laughter all year round. Let's repay them by keeping them safe in the summer heat. Animals can overheat and get sick, just like humans, so it is important to keep and eye on them during these hot days and take steps to keep them cool.
Check out some tips from ASPCA experts to help you keep your pets happy and healthy this season:
- Pets can get dehydrated quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water when it’s hot or humid outdoors.
- Make sure your pets have a shady place to get out of the sun, be careful not to over-exercise them, and keep them indoors when it’s extremely hot.
- Know the symptoms of overheating in pets, which include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor or even collapse. Symptoms can also include seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomit along with an elevated body temperature of over 104 degrees.
- Animals with flat faces, like Pugs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heat stroke since they cannot pant as effectively. These pets, along with the elderly, the overweight, and those with heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.
- Never leave your animals alone in a parked vehicle. Not only can it lead to fatal heat stroke, it is illegal in several states!
Here are more useful tips for keeping your loved pets safe in the heat.