Leading vets have issued a stark warning to pet owners as parts of the U.S. brace for heat-wave conditions this week.
California, Nevada, Arizona and Texas are among the states expected to experience triple-digit temperatures during the week and into the weekend. While the 34 million Americans or so affected are advised to avoid the heat by staying indoors, drinking plenty of water and reducing physical activity, pet owners have the extra responsibility of making sure their animals don’t overdo it in the scorching heat.
“When it’s hot outside, it’s critical to prevent and know the signs of overheating and dehydration in pets. Symptoms include panting, drooling, deep or rapid breathing, weakness, disorientation and vomiting,” Petco’s Chief Veterinarian, Dr. Whitney Miller, told Newsweek.
“Heatstroke can affect the gastrointestinal system, kidneys, heart, lungs, and brain,” Dr. Monica Sterk from Veterinary Emergency Group told Newsweek.
“It also severely impacts the hemostatic system—the way your dog’s body reacts to injury. For example, heatstroke can cause longer blood clotting times, which can lead to hemorrhage. Prognosis varies upon severity; in some cases, heatstroke is fatal, regardless of treatment,” Sterk said.
How Can I Keep my Pet Cool?
Keeping an eye on your pets is essential in the warm weather as heat-related illnesses can set in quickly. “Heat-related emergencies can sneak up on pet owners,” Dr. Kelly Cairns, vice president of medical excellence and education at Thrive Pet Healthcare, told Newsweek. “By the time the warning signs become obvious, it’s a life-threatening situation.”
Veterinarians advise keeping your animal indoors with the air conditioning on and a consistent supply of cool drinking water. Dogs in particular should be walked only during the cooler hours of the day; in the morning and late evening. Make sure any exercise they do isn’t too strenuous as this can lead to overheating.
Another reason to keep your pet indoors during the hottest hours, usually between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., is the risk of paw pads being burnt when walking on hot ground. “If you can’t walk on the pavement barefoot, then neither should they,” Dr. Laura Greene from Merck Animal Health told Newsweek. “If you put your hand down on the sidewalk and you can’t leave your hand there comfortably, there’s the possibility that they’re going to burn their feet.”
However, if you do want to let your pet enjoy the sunshine responsibly, make sure they always have access to shade and fresh drinking water while outdoors.
Vets also say that you should never, under any circumstances, leave your animal in a car unattended. “Never leave your pet alone in a parked vehicle. Even with the windows down, a car can quickly turn into an oven,” Cairns said. “Also, leaving the air conditioning running is risky because the air-conditioning system could fail. It’s best to take your pet inside with you or leave your pet at home.”
What Should I Do in an Emergency?
Cairns said pet owners should never wait if their animal becomes ill from excessive heat. “Don’t wait. Take your pet to a veterinarian immediately for treatment to prevent organ shutdown and other severe complications,” she added.
Pets with underlying health conditions such as heart disease, obesity, diabetes and respiratory conditions are particularly at risk during hot periods. Young and old animals are also have a heightened risk of developing heat-related illnesses, Cairns said.
“Very young and senior pets may have difficulty regulating body temperature,” she added. “Puppies and kittens are not fully developed, and senior pets may have weakened systems due to aging. Both age groups could have difficulty handling heat stress, making them more susceptible to heatstroke.”
Despite taking the necessary steps to prevent illness in your pet, major medical issues such as heatstroke can come on quickly and require immediate intervention.
Sterk recommends taking the following measures to help an overheated pet:
Offering cool water for a pet to drink, if there is no vomiting.Wetting down the dog with cool, not cold, water.Running the air conditioning in the car or home on high.Calling the emergency vet and letting them know a pet in need is on the way.
In case of emergency, vets also advise against giving your dog or cat a cold bath to cool them down. “Don’t submerse your dog in a cold-water bath because that can actually cause them to trap heat inside their body as all of their outer blood vessels shrink down in response to the cold and, all of a sudden, they can’t get their core temperature down,” Greene said.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.