by Roan Kishpaugh

Created on: July 10, 2011

Keeping pets cool in the summer heat

As an animal lover, you often worry more about your pet’s wellbeing than your own. During the winter we make sure our pets are nice and warm and in the summer we get concerned about them over heating. There are several ways to help our furry friends stay cool as the temperature rises.

First, make sure the pet is in a cool area. This may be in a room with air conditioning or fan blowing. If the pet is outside, make sure they are in an area with ample shade and where any breeze can blow through. Inside pets may find relief by going into the basement, if you have one. Never ever leave a pet in a car during the summer, even with the windows open, as the vehicle’s internal temperature can reach over 120 degrees in a matter of minutes. It is better to leave the pet at home or take it out of the car and secure it firmly to a sturdy tree or post in the shade if you must run into a store quickly.

Next it is very important to ensure plenty of water is available for the pet. Dehydration is a primary cause of heatstroke and death in pets during the summer. Encourage the pet to drink plenty of water through out the day. You can even add some ice cubes to keep the water cool and encourage the younger and more playful pets to drink more. If it is really hot and the pet has been playing hard or exercising, it is okay to offer a small amount of electrolytes with the water.

Pets don’t sweat like humans do to cool themselves. Rather, they cool themselves by panting and sweating through their paw pads. When a pet is really hot, cool the paws by dipping them in water or rubbing them lightly with a little rubbing alcohol. Letting dogs go swimming can help them cool down quickly if your dog enjoys this sport.

Some people like to shave their pets with the thought that it will help them stay cooler. This is rather controversial. Many people feel that the fur actually acts as insulation and helps keep the warm air out thereby keeping the pet cooler. If you do shave your pet, watch out for sunburn and remember that once the sun sets, the animal may get chilled without their fur coat to keep them warm. An alternative to shaving is to wet the pet down with water and let the evaporation of the water cool them. Some dogs enjoy running in and out of a sprinkler hose.

Occasionally, no matter what we do, our pet does get overheated. If this happens and you see the signs of heat stroke such as lethargy, listlessness, lack of saliva, rapid breathing, etc, call your veterinarian immediately and move the pet to as cool an area as possible. Cool the pet down further by wetting them and fanning them and transport to the animal hospital as soon as practical. A handy addition to your pet’s first aid kit is a digital thermometer. Get to know what your pet’s normal body temperature and then if you think they may be overheating, you will have a reference temperature to help determine if the problem is temperature related.

Finally, on days when we know the temperature is going to be soaring towards the triple digits, don’t plan a big outing with your pet. Stay home, rest, and relax.

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