With high temperatures and humidity during the summer, it is essential to ensure your pets stay cool and comfortable. Overheating and dehydration can be severe risks for animals, but there are simple steps you can take to keep your furry friends safe and happy and prevent heatstroke in pets during the hottest days of the year.

Risk of Heatstroke in Pets During Hot Weather and Humidity

High temperatures and humidity can lead to overheating and heatstroke in pets. Dogs cool themselves by panting, where saliva evaporates to lower their body temperature. However, high humidity slows down this cooling process, making it harder for them to regulate their heat. Cats do not typically pant but rely on finding cool spots and grooming to stay cool. In hot and humid conditions, dogs and cats may struggle to keep cool, increasing the risk of discomfort and heatstroke.

What is Heatstroke?

Heatstroke, or overheating or heat exhaustion, occurs when a dog or cat’s body temperature rises above 103°F. At this point, the pet can suffer from organ damage, organ failure, and even death. It can only take 5 to 10 minutes for a pet to succumb to heatstroke.

Symptoms of Heatstroke

 

As temperatures rise, beware of symptoms of overheating, such as:

  • panting in cats
  • excessive panting in dogs
  • thick, stringy drool
  • lethargy, weakness, or stumbling
  • vomiting
  • diarrhea
  • collapsing
Take Immediate Action if You Suspect Your Pet is Overheating

 

If your pet is showing signs of overheating, take immediate action to cool them down and ensure their safety:

1. Move to a Cool Area: Take your pet to a shaded, cool place indoors or in the shade outside.

2. Provide Water: Offer your pet fresh, cool (not cold) water to drink. Encourage small sips rather than gulping. When your pet is overheated, drinking very cold water or ice water can cause your pet’s blood vessels to constrict, potentially worsening the situation by hindering heat dissipation. Cold or ice water can also cause stomach cramps or other stomach problems.

3. Cool Them Down: Wet their bodies with cool (not cold) water. You can place wet towels on their necks, under their armpits, and between their hind legs. You can also gently pour cool water over their bodies.

4. Use Fans or Air Conditioning: To help lower your pet’s body temperature, place your pet in front of a fan or an air-conditioned room.

5. Monitor Their Temperature: If possible, use a rectal thermometer to monitor their temperature. As mentioned, the average temperature of dogs and cats is around 101-102.5°F (38.3-39.2°C). If their temperature is above 104°F (40°C), it’s an emergency.

6. Immediately seek veterinarian care:  Call the Animal Wellness & Rehab Center or an Emergency Veterinary Hospital. Veterinary intervention is crucial to cool down the pet rapidly, assess for any internal damage, and provide supportive care such as intravenous fluids. Delay in treatment can worsen the condition rapidly, so quick action by a veterinarian can significantly improve the pet’s chances of recovery and reduce long-term health impacts.

10 Essential Tips to Keep Your Pet Safe in Hot Weather

 

1.   Provide plenty of fresh water. 

One of the most important things you can do to keep your pets cool during the summer is to provide them with plenty of fresh water. Keep their water bowl filled with clean, cool water. You can add ice cubes to help keep it cool. You can also provide multiple water sources throughout your home or yard to make it easy for your pets to stay hydrated.

2.   Keep your home cool. 

Keeping your home cool is essential for your pets’ comfort during the hot summer. Ensure your air conditioning works appropriately and set it to a comfortable temperature for your pets. Fans can also help. You can also provide your pets with cool, shaded areas to rest in, such as a covered porch or a room with tile or hardwood floors.

3.   NEVER leave your pet in the car. 

 

Never leave your pet alone in the car on a hot day, even for a brief stop. The temperature in a car can heat up rapidly. For example, on an 85-degree day, even with open windows, your vehicle can reach 98 degrees in just 10 minutes and 114°F in 30 minutes!

If you are going to travel this summer with your pet, search the web ahead of your trip for pet-friendly restaurants, parks, and rest stops.Here is an example of a website that promotes pet-friendly restaurants. You can also visit drive-through restaurants.

Tennessee’s Good Samaritan Law 

If you ever encounter a situation where you find a child or pet left alone in a hot car, Tennessee’s Good Samaritan Law protects individuals who break into vehicles to rescue those in danger from legal repercussions.

4.   Limit outdoor activities during the hottest parts of the day. 

To prevent heatstroke, take your pets for walks early in the morning or later in the evening when it’s cooler. Taking them out during the cooler parts of the day will also help protect their paws from hot sidewalks or asphalt.

5.   Provide shade and shelter. 

It is essential that your pet has somewhere to go to stay cool, whether indoors or outdoors. If your pet is outdoors, ensure there are plenty of trees, umbrellas, or other structures that offer shade in your yard. If your pets are indoors, ensure they have a cool area to rest and relax, such as a covered porch or a room with tile or hardwood floors.    

6.   Treat your pet to a cooling pad. 

Cooling pads can help regulate your pet’s body temperature while providing a cushioned place to lie down. Dogs especially like cooling pads, but you can also get them for other pets. You can put them in your pet’s favorite spot to hang out.

7.   Planning a hike with your dog? Be prepared! 

If you plan to hike with your dog, ensure they have a clean bill of health from AWRC. Dogs can’t regulate their internal body temperature as well as you can. They can also be highly motivated to follow their owners at all costs, even when suffering. Watch weather reports and be very cautious about hiking on hot days. Take frequent breaks to cool your dog down when walking in warm weather. Bring extra water. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion.

8.   Keep your pet groomed. 

Do not be misled into shaving your pet in the summer to help them stay cooler. Pets’ coats act as insulation, protecting them from both heat and cold. Shaving removes your pet’s natural cooling system and can lead to discomfort, overheating, and other dangers like sunburn or skin cancer. Instead of shaving, focus on regular grooming to remove excess hair and prevent matting.

9.   Keep high-risk pets inside on hot days. 
As we mentioned above, some pets are more at risk for heatstroke – elderly, obese, or have medical issues. Flat-faced dog and cat breeds such as pugs, bulldogs, boxers, Persian cats, British Shorthairs, etc. are prone to breathing problems. These pets should be kept inside an air-conditioned home on hot days except for taking them outside briefly for bathroom breaks.

10.   Be watchful for signs your pet is getting too hot. 
Waiting for signs of heatstroke before acting is waiting too long. If your pet looks uncomfortable or panting more than usual, it is time to bring them inside to cool down. If you see a cat panting in hot weather, realize panting is not common in cats, and you should get them inside and cool them down. There are other causes for cats panting, so if you are unsure why your cat is panting, please contact us.

Conclusion:  Keep Your Pets Cool and Safe This Summer

By following these 10 essential tips, you can help prevent heatstroke in your pets and ensure they stay cool and comfortable during the hot summer months. Remember, high temperatures and humidity pose serious risks to your furry friends, but with proactive measures and close attention to their needs, you can keep them safe and happy. Always be vigilant for signs of overheating, provide plenty of water and shade, and never leave your pet in a hot car. Your pets rely on you to protect them, so stay informed and take the necessary steps to safeguard their health this summer.

Your Friendly Vet Team

Animal Wellness and Rehab Center