- Never leave a pet in a parked car! Even with cracked windows, temps can get up to 130°F within minutes in a closed car.
- If your pet is outdoors: keep plenty of fresh water available
- Provide a shaded area
- If you have a long-coated dog, keep the coat free of mats and fecal material (poop) where sores can develop and attract flies that may lay eggs (maggots!)
- If flies bite your dog’s ears, please use an approved fly bite protection such as Pet Guard Gel or VIP Fly Ointment (available at LVCC)
- Exercise your pet either early in the morning, or at dusk when the temperatures are cooler. Also, be careful of hot pavement that can burn the pads of your dog’s feet.
- Remember that short-nosed breeds (pugs, shih tzus, bulldogs) obese dogs, older dogs, and stressed dogs (dogs with any anxiety or other health issue), are at a higher risk for heat exhaustion
- SIGNS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION
- Excessive Panting
- Gums or tongue a bright red color
- Confusion
- Not able to get up or lethargic (overly tired)
- Seizures
- WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IF YOU SEE THESE SIGNS
- Call the Vet as soon as possible
- Wet your pet down with tepid water (never cold water… cold water can cause further shock to the circulatory system)
Enjoy the summertime with your pets, but remember that heat exhaustion and heat stroke can affect pets too! Keep in mind that our furriest friends deserve some relief from the heat as well!
