Summer is Here — Keep Your Pets Safe in the Heat!
While we're all excited that summer has arrived, the Office of Animal Welfare wants to take a moment to remind you how to keep your pets safe and healthy in the heat.
Tips for a Safe Summer:
- NEVER leave pets in cars – even for a short time. Temperatures rise rapidly and can lead to heat stroke and death in minutes. It is also illegal and could result in animal cruelty charges.
- Hydration, Hydration, Hydration – cool, fresh water should always be available to your pet.
- Keep pets indoors – or, for farm animals, provide well-ventilated, shaded areas.
- Provide shade – if pets must be outside. Avoid direct sunlight.
- Check surfaces – asphalt and pavement can burn paws; always test with the back of your hand.
- Time their exercise wisely – avoid peak heat by walking or playing in the early morning or late evening. And don’t allow them to be out too long.
Heatstroke
Heatstroke is a serious condition that occurs when an animal’s body temperature rises to dangerous levels, often due to prolonged exposure to heat. Dogs cannot cool themselves by sweating as humans do. They pant to cool themselves, but excessive panting is a red flag that your dog may be overheating. For cats, it’s even more serious — panting in cats is almost always a veterinary emergency, often indicating an underlying cardiovascular issue. While there are rare exceptions, you should always treat a panting cat as a critical situation.
Know the Signs of Heatstroke:
- Excessive panting
- Discolored or pale gums
- Weakness or lethargy
- Loss of interest in food
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Collapse, loss of coordination
If you notice any of these symptoms, move your pet to a cool area immediately and offer them water. Wet their fur with cool water (not ice-cold) and seek veterinary care as soon as possible.
Heatstroke cases in veterinary emergency hospitals can range from mild dehydration to dangerously high body temperatures that cause severe, permanent damage to internal organs — and can be fatal if not treated quickly.
Did You Know?
In 2022, the French Bulldog replaced the Labrador Retriever as the most registered breed by the American Kennel Club (AKC). French Bulldogs are a brachycephalic breed. Brachycephalic translates to “shortened head.” These dogs have a shortened skull shape that gives them their signature “pushed-in” face. Unfortunately, it also means they have a reduced ability to regulate their body temperature, making them especially vulnerable to heatstroke, even in moderate temperatures. Other brachycephalic breeds include the pug, bulldog, shih tzu, boxer, bullmastiffs, pekingese, lhasa apso, Boston terrier, and chow chow, to name a few.
Remember… animals don’t always know when to slow down — it’s our job to help protect them. With just a few simple precautions, you can make sure your pets stay happy, healthy, and cool all summer long.