How to Keep Pets Cool When the Temperatures Rise
The summer months can be uncomfortable—even dangerous—for pets and people. We can help you keep your pets safe and cool this summer. Follow our tips for helping everyone in your family stay healthy while hot.
THE SEVEN-SECOND RULE:
Dogs’ paws can be just as sensitive as humans’ feet. That means they’re equally as likely to get burnt walking on a hot surface as their owner would be.
Vets in the US, where paw burns are common in many areas due to high summer temperatures, came up with a test to check when it’s safe to walk dogs on a pavement. Their advice is for owners to place the back of their hand on the surface for seven seconds. If they struggle to hold it down, it’s too hot to walk a dog.
HOW HOT IS TOO HOT TO WALK A DOG ON PAVEMENT
Dogs can suffer burns to their paws on days most people wouldn’t consider searingly hot.
If the outside temperature is a pleasant 77F, there’s little wind and humidity is low, asphalt and tarmac can reach a staggering 125F. This can rise to 143F when the mercury hits 87F. It’s worth bearing in mind that an egg can fry in five minutes at 131F while skin destruction can occur in just one minute at 125F.
NEVER LEAVE YOUR PETS IN A PARKED CAR
Not even for a minute! Not even with the car running and the air conditioner on. On a warm day, temperatures inside a vehicle can rise rapidly to dangerous levels. On an 85-degree day, for example, the temperature inside a car with the windows opened slightly can reach 102 degrees within 10 minutes. After 30 minutes, the temperature will reach 120 degrees. Your pet may suffer irreversible organ damage or die.
LIMIT EXERCISE ON HOT DAYS
Take care when exercising your pet. Adjust intensity and duration of exercise in accordance with the temperature. On very hot days, limit exercise to early morning or evening hours, and be especially careful with pets with white-colored ears, who are more susceptible to skin cancer, and short-nosed pets, who typically have difficulty breathing. Always carry water with you to keep your dog from dehydrating.
DON’T RELY ON A FAN
Pets respond differently to heat than humans do. DID YOU KNOW?: Dogs sweat primarily through their feet 🐾Dogs pant as a means of evaporative cooling: when a dog gets hot, it will open its mouth and breathe heavily. As water evaporates from the dog's tongue, nasal passages, and lungs, this helps lower its body temperature. And fans don't cool off pets as effectively as they do people.
PROVIDE AMPLE SHADE AND FRESH, COLD WATER
Any time your pet is outside, make sure they have protection from heat and sun and plenty of fresh, cold water. In heat waves, add ice to water when possible. Tree shade and tarps are ideal because they don't obstruct air flow. A doghouse does not provide relief from heat—in fact, it makes it worse.
WATCH FOR SIGNS OF HEATSTROKE
Extreme temperatures can cause heatstroke. Some signs of heatstroke are heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, excessive thirst, lethargy, fever, dizziness, lack of coordination, profuse salivation, vomiting, a deep red or purple tongue, seizure, and unconsciousness.
Animals are at particular risk for heatstroke if they are very old, very young, overweight, not conditioned to prolonged exercise, or have heart or respiratory disease. Some breeds of dogs—like boxers, pugs, shih tzus and other dogs and cats with short muzzles—will have a much harder time breathing in extreme heat.