Keeping Your Pets Safe In Extreme Heat

The extreme heat can be just as hazardous to your pets as it is for us humans. Animals can get overheated faster than people, so it's very important to take some of the same precautions we do for ourselves and apply them to our pets.

If it's too hot for you, it's too hot for your pet. Remember they're still wearing their fur coats.

"Pets don't sweat like we do. They sweat through their panting and paws," explained Dr. Jean Duddy of Angell Animal Medical Center. "They cannot cool of as well as we do."

To keep your pets safe, walk them in the early morning or late afternoon when it's cooler and don't let them play outside.

"They really don't know enough to cool off," said Dr Duddy. "A dog out playing in this weather will continue to play."

If you have to leave your pets inside during the day make sure they have plenty of cold water and a cool place to stay. And never leave a pet in your car, even briefly.

"On an 80 degree day, ten minutes in a car, the temperature can rise to over a hundred. So ,you can imagine with the temperature already 100 how hot that gets how quickly."

Watch for signs that your pet is in heat distress, symptoms like excessive panting, staggering and dizziness.

If that happens Dr. Duddy says it is important to immediately get them to a shady area. "Cool them with cool, not cold, water, and put ice packs on their neck."