-
Photo by Christopher Lugo/Staff A friendly pup at the Highlands Motoring Festival this year.
With temperatures rising to the high 90s during the summer, The Highlander spoke with Cashiers Highlands Humane Society executive director David Stroud to find ways to stay cool and avoid heat stroke for humans and animals alike.
Heatstroke is a very serious threat to humans and animals alike, and it is especially dangerous to pets who live outside. Thankfully, there are multiple precautions an individual can take to ensure their pets stay cool and safe.
The first precaution that someone can take to ensure their pets, especially those who stay outdoors, is to provide them with access to a shady place that also allows for good airflow.
“The best type of shade is shade trees and/or tarps, things that offer plenty of airflow underneath the shade,” Highlands-Cashiers Humane Society Executive Director David Stroud said. “Dog houses can be okay as long as the dog houses have plenty of ventilation. But I’ve seen a lot of dog houses that are boxed in on all four sides with a little cutout and that’s even worse than no doghouse at all. Because it gets incredibly hot inside a doghouse with no ventilation. So that’s the best thing to do to give them access to shade.”
Individuals looking to purchase a doghouse should make it a point to purchase one that has closable roof vents or ventilation holes along the roof. For people who already own a doghouse that lacks air flow, creating ventilation holes is also a viable option.
Shade and good air flow are extremely important to keep pets cool in the summer, but the number one precaution that pet owners should take is making sure that all pets, indoor or outdoor, have access to fresh, cold water all throughout the day.
“The other thing that is just as important is access to fresh water,” Stroud said. “And the water should be checked, ideally, throughout the day. It’s not enough to just sit out a bowl of water, especially God forbid a metal bowl of water and then just leave it unattended all day long. Ideally, you want to check on the water throughout the day. And if you have access to a bag of ice or something, put some ice in the water and try to keep it a little extra chill.”
Other things that pet owners can do to keep their animals safe from the heat is to remember to never leave a pet inside of a car as it is extremely dangerous, even if the air conditioner is left on. Keeping a dog well-groomed can be helpful, however, different breeds may actually rely on their coats to keep them cool. It is best to first consult with a professional groomer before cutting a pet’s coat.
“There’s no one answer for all breeds, but I will tell you as a long-term pet dad of Siberian Huskies it is a myth that shaving them will make them cooler,” Stroud said. “It’s actually just the opposite. Yes, their undercoat actually helps keep them cool. And I would recommend that any pet owner consult with their veterinarian or their groomer for specific advice on their specific breed but as a Siberian Husky decades it’s a myth and it’s an absolute wrong thing to do.”
Additionally, keep a check on humidity levels and limit the amount of exercise done on hot days. A good rule of thumb is to always check the pavement to see how hot it is before taking a pet for a walk.
“A really easy rule of thumb is to take your shoes and socks off and step on the sidewalk or step on the asphalt,” Stroud said. “If it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for your dog. And I say the exact same thing in the middle of winter, if it’s too cold for you, it’s too cold for your pet. But I think that’s a good rule of thumb. If you don’t want to go to such an extreme as taking your shoe and sock just place the palm of your hand down on the sidewalk or the road or the parking lot. And if you can’t hold it there for five seconds. That’s too hot for your pet.”
Taking the proper precautions and staying on the lookout for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke is the best way for pet owners to keep their furry friends happy and healthy throughout the summer months. According to Stroud, signs of heat stroke in pets include, “excessive panting, profuse salivation, if you are able to pull back their cheeks to see their tongue and their gums is dark or bright red tongue or gums, glazed eyes, lethargy, lack of coordination, seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomiting.”
If a pet begins to exhibit these symptoms, especially seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomiting, owners need to get them to the vet as soon as possible.
“If it gets to that stage, you’ve got to rush your pet to the vet immediately,” Stroud said. “If they’re not quite to that point, you can give them small amounts of cool water a little bit at a time, take some cooling towels and wrap them with cooling towels, you can place some cooling pads around their neck or under their armpits, and try to just lower their body temperature a little bit. But, if it’s already gotten to the point of clearly, it’s heatstroke, you need to get in your vehicle and go to the vet.”
- By Kaylee Cook