TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Dogs are good at keeping their cool on the outside, but staying outside too long can leave them feeling worse for wear.
“Excessive panting, fatigue, and things like not acting like themselves. You think of a person possibly getting heat or sunstroke. They’re usually not acting like their normal, active, cognizant self. It’s the same thing with your pets,” said Emi Griess, Communications Coordinator for Helping Hands Humane Society.
Certain dogs are at a higher risk for conditions like heatstroke or dehydration with our warming weather.
Griess said, “Older dogs, dogs with really thick fur, or those dogs with short snouts, they could come down with effects from the heat faster than other animals.”
There are three simple tips you can take to make sure your pet stays cool this summer.
“Keeping pets safe in the heat is very similar to keeping ourselves safe in the heat, so if they can go indoors in the air conditioning during the hottest part of the day as much as possible, that’s huge. Dogs do need to go outside to go potty, so short trips to the backyard or short walks, and make sure they have access to shade in that time,” said Griess.
Of course, hydration is key to any successful outing on a hot day. But it’s important to highlight how key shade is.
“Animals and dogs can get sunburned and sun damage just like us. So again, that’s why shade is so very important and limiting their exposure during the hottest part of the day,” said Griess.
And, as the old saying goes…
“Prevention, of course, is the best medicine because if they are not out for long periods at all, hopefully, you won’t see those signs.”
Griess also says you should try to take care of stray dogs during this time of year.
“If you happen to see a dog that’s loose and you have any ability to welcome it into your yard that has shade and give it cool water or even your basement, or a spare room for as little as 24 to 48 hours and search for the family and let us know that you found that dog, a lot of times we can get them back home within a day or two without them having to come to the shelter.”
To further keep your pets safe this time of year, avoid keeping them in the car, as temperatures can rise exponentially in that closed environment. Also, make sure to protect Fido’s feet from the heat by putting your hand on surfaces like concrete to check the temperature before they walk on it.
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