NC State Provides Hot Tips for Keeping Pets Cool and Safe This Summer

It’s official: the dog (and cat) days of summer are upon us. When you’re taking steps to beat the heat, don’t forget your furry friends – they suffer the same ill effects that we do when it gets too hot.

“If you are uncomfortable, it’s safe to say that your pet is as well,” says Dr. Steven Marks, clinical associate professor of critical care and internal medicine at North Carolina State University. “Pets can suffer from heat stroke, dehydration and even sunburn. While you sweat through numerous pores to lower body temperature, your pet has few sweat glands – found mostly on the nose and the pads of their feet. They can become dangerously overheated.”

Tips for helping Fido and Fluffy beat the heat:

• Limit exercise on hot and humid days to early morning and evening.
• When exercising, remember that asphalt becomes very hot – which can burn tender foot pads – keep fresh water handy, and ensure that cooling shade is always nearby.
• Never leave a pet in a parked car. “Even with the windows rolled down,” Marks says, “it only takes a few minutes for a dangerous level of heat to build within the interior of a car. Dehydration, heat stroke and even brain damage to the dog or cat can occur.”

While all dogs and cats are at risk, older or very young pets, overweight pets, pets with heavy coats, and short-nosed dogs may need extra care.

According to Marks, if your pet is panting excessively or has difficulty breathing; has an increased heart and respiratory rate; drools; has difficulty walking; appears weak or in a stupor, you need to place the pet in the shade or air conditioning immediately and apply cool – not cold – water to reduce the animal’s core body temperature. Get help from your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Some other summertime (or anytime) tips:

• Keep your pet up-to-date on heartworm medication, as well as flea and tick prevention. This summer in particular cat owners are advised to protect their feline companions from tick-transmitted cytauxzoonosis, a malaria-like infectious disease that left untreated has a mortality rate close to 100 percent.
• Beware of toxic agents such as plant food, insecticides, fertilizer, coolants, citronella candles, oil products, and insect coils that may be around the home and yard.
• Prevent access to compost bins or garbage cans – ingesting the fungus on decomposing objects can cause a potentially lethal condition known as tremorgenic mycotoxin intoxication. Symptoms of this condition are uncontrolled and non-stop shaking.
• The heat, loud noise, and confusion of crowded summer events can be stressful for pets. Unlit fireworks may contain heavy metals such as potassium nitrate, copper, chlorates, and arsenic, which are toxic if ingested.
• Make sure your pet is always wearing a collar or identification such as a microchip.

As a resource for pet owners, the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at NC State provides small animal emergency service weekdays from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m., weekends from 5 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Monday, and 24 hours a day on legal holidays. Call 919/513-6911 for more information.

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