Entering the dog days of summer, pets need a little extra care in order to prevent dehydration and heat stroke during extreme weather. Here are some tips to keep your furry friends safe and what to look out for in dangerously hot conditions.
“The risk is very similar to that in people where you can have extremely high body temperatures leading to severe dehydration and, in some cases, multi-organ failure and death in dogs,” said New York City Bond Vet veterinarian Dr. Gabrielle Fadl in a recent interview with NBC New York.
These are the top three precautionary steps Dr. Fadl shared in order to avoid any potential threat to your dog.
- Avoid long walks during the mid-day sun. Instead, take Fido out during either the early morning or dusk hours. If you must take the dog out, limit the timing to five to ten minutes max outside.
- Pavement can become extremely hot – sometimes upwards of a 150 degrees. Keep to the shaded side of the street or grass, if possible.
- Even if you blast the air conditioner, don’t leave your pets inside the car. This may just bring more anxiety to your pet during an already stressful circumstance.
To Dr. Fadl, dogs most at-risk are brachiocephalic breeds, such as French and English Bulldogs, Boxers, Pugs, Boston Terriers, Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
Signs of a dehydrated pet are panting, noisy breathing, excessive drooling, foaming at nose or mouth and blue or purple tongue color.
In the event your pet does…
