Originally published February 26 2006
Vet gives safety tips on how to keep your pet safe this summer
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Janet Crosby, DVM, warns that pets are a lot more vulnerable to the summer heat and offers preventative measures and guidelines to ensure better pet health.
The purpose of this article is to serve as a reminder of summer dangers for pets, so that all of the fun isn't spoiled by an unsuspected emergency or illness.
Heat Stroke Most people are aware that leaving a pet in a locked car on a 100F degree day would be dangerous.
Avoid Heat Stroke - How to Help Order the "Your Dog May Be Dying" flyers from the Animal Protection Institute to put on cars that have pets in them to alert the owners.
Dogs are still jogging in their winter coat (or a slightly lighter version) and can only cool themselves by panting and a small amount of sweating through the foot pads.
I have treated one case of heat stroke in a dog that did indeed have shade and water while tethered under a deck, but had gotten the chain stuck around a stake in the middle of the yard -- no water or shade for hours.
If you live in a warm climate, it is a good idea to hose down the dog before work, at lunch or whenever you can to provide extra cooling (if you dog is not over heated in the first place).
Do not aid cooling below 103 F degrees - some animals can actually get HYPOthermic, too cold.
Offer ice cubes for the animal to lick on until you can reach your Veterinarian.
Just because your animal is cooled and "appears" OK, do NOT assume everything is fine.
Water Safety Many people head for the lakes and rivers this time of year, and the family dog is often part of the fun.
With the warmer temperatures of summer, cars over heat and may leak antifreeze.
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