The dog days of summer are upon us and the heat is on! Heatstroke in your pets is a serious concern as the temperature rises, here’s what per parents need to know to keep their furry friends safe as the days heat up.
The AVMA offers safety precautions to avoid heatstroke in pets and advice on what to do if your pet is suffering from heatstroke.
Never leave your pet in the car on warm days. The temperature inside a car can rise very quickly to dangerous levels, even on milder days. Pets can succumb to heatstroke very easily and must be treated very quickly to give them the best chance of survival.- If you cannot immediately get your pet to a veterinarian, move it to a shaded area and out of direct sunlight.
- Place a cool or cold, wet towel around its neck and head (do not cover your pet’s eyes, nose or mouth).
- Remove the towel, wring it out, and rewet it and rewrap it every few minutes as you cool the animal.
- Pour or use a hose to keep water running over the animal’s body (especially the abdomen and between the hind legs), and use your hands to massage its legs and sweep the water away as it absorbs the body heat.
- Transport the pet to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
For more about heatstroke in pets, including the signs and symptoms to look for see our recent article on heatstroke in pets, here.
Source: AVMA
