By Diane A. Dodin, D.V.M.
The high Temperatures of the summer time can take a toll on our pets. Dogs and cats sweat from their pads and lose heat through panting. The fur on their body doesn't help when it's in the upper 80s or 90s outside. Imagine if you had to spend the entire summer with a fur coat on with the ability to only sweat from your hands and feet. Because of these reasons, we need to be more sensitive about how the heat is effecting our pets.
There are guidelines that can make your pet more comfortable and even save their lives on hot days. First, you should never leave a pet in a car with the windows rolled up without any air conditioning on. Animals can die from over heating just like people. On walks, always carry water for your dog. They can become dehydrated with normal exercise on a hot day. Try not to over exercise your pet on high temperature days. Swimming and hosing your dog down with water does help to keep them cool, plus it's a lot of fun. You may notice your pet drinking more water, this could be due to them sweating or panting more, which causes water loss in their body. If you notice the temperatures rise, or if exercise is increased, remember to have water as needed to prevent dehydration. Finding a shaded area for you and your pet to cool off in during a walk will help with over-heating problems. During these breaks, don't forget to have water ready for your pet.
There are a few things that can be done to help cool off your pet. Having the air conditioning or fans on in the house will give your pet at least one area to feel comfortable in. Giving your dog or cat a summer cut will lighten the load of fur that can act as an insulator. Be careful of cuts that are too short. Dogs and cats can get sun burned. You may need to use sunscreen as a preventative. Check with your veterinarian prior to applying any sunscreen. Hosing down your pets or applying wet towels on them can help with the cooling process. You can also apply isopropyl alcohol to the pads. Heat is lost when the alcohol evaporates from the pads.
These are a few ways to keep your pet safe and comfortable during the hot summer months.