Heat Stroke Prevention

As of Friday evening a local emergency hospital reported seeing many heat stroke patients. 

Please follow these tips to avoid heat stroke:

• Pets can get dehydrated quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water when it's hot outdoors. Make sure your pets have a shady place to get out of the sun, be careful to not over-exercise them, and keep them indoors when it's extremely hot.
• Never leave your pets in a car, even with the windows down. 
• Feel free to trim your cat or dogs coat, but leave at least 1 inch of fur to keep them protected from the sun.
•  Remember some breeds of dogs and cats are even more sensitive to the sun and heat. For example the short-nosed breeds are very susceptible to heat stroke and their owners need to be extra cautious.
• Do not start a new exercise regime with your pet in the heat of the summer even if it is before sunrise. A pet that is not used to exercise can get heat stroke even before sunrise in the hot part of the summer in Phoenix, AZ.
• When the temperature is very high, don't let your dog linger on hot asphalt. Being so close the ground, your pooch's body can heat up quickly, and sensitive paw pads can burn. 

Symptoms of overheating in pets include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor or even collapse. They can also include seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomit along with an elevated body temperature of over 104 degrees. Please call your veterinarian as soon as possible if your pet exhibits any of these symptoms. Again, animals with flat faces, like Pugs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heat stroke since they cannot pant as effectively. These pets, along with the elderly, the overweight, and those with heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.