How To Keep Pets Safe During A Heat Wave

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – This year alone 41 dogs, including four puppies, have reportedly died after being left in hot vehicles, according to PETA, while other dogs sustain burns and develop blisters on their paws from walking on hot pavement. Pet owners should take special precautions during heat waves and periods of high temperatures.

When outdoor temperatures reach the 80s, the temperatures inside a parked car can reach over 100 degrees in minutes, and asphalt temperatures can reach 140 degrees. These temperatures can cause pain, burns, scarring, and permanent damage, according to PETA. The signs of a dog experiencing heatstroke include: restlessness, heavy panting, vomiting, lethargy, or lack of appetite or coordination.

If a dog is experiencing these symptoms, PETA suggests moving the dog to the shade, providing them with water, and applying a cold towel to their head and chest before calling a veterinarian. PETA offers the following suggestions for safeguarding animals during hot weather

• Keep dogs indoors: Unlike humans, dogs can only sweat through their footpads and cool themselves by panting. Soaring temperatures can cause heat stress, injury, or death.
• Provide water and shade: When outside, animals must have access to fresh water and ample shade, and the shifting sun needs to be taken into account. Even brief periods of direct exposure to the sun can have life-threatening consequences.
• Walk—don't run: In very hot, humid weather, never exercise dogs by biking and making them run alongside you or by running them while you jog. Dogs will collapse before giving up, at which point, it may be too late to save them.·
• Avoid hot cars: Never leave an animal in a parked car in warm weather—even just briefly and with the windows partially rolled down. A dog trapped inside a hot car can succumb to heatstroke within minutes—even if the car isn't parked in direct sunlight.
• Never transport animals in the bed of a pickup truck: This practice is dangerous—and illegal in many cities and states—because animals can be catapulted out of a truck bed on a sudden stop or strangled if they jump out while they're tethered.
• Stay alert and save a life: Keep an eye on all outdoor animals. Make sure that they have adequate water and shelter. If you see an animal in distress, provide him or her with water for immediate relief and contact humane authorities right away.
• Avoid hot pavement: When outdoor temperatures reach the 80s, asphalt temperatures can reach 140 degrees, causing pain, burns, and permanent damage, leading to scarring on dogs' paws after just a few minutes of contact. Walk on grass whenever possible, and avoid walking in the middle of the day.

For additional tips, visit their website.

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