Keep Your Pets Cool

In the sweltering hot temperatures that have spread across the Bay State, it is not only important to take care of yourself but also your pets.

Dr. Jim Fisher, veterinarian at the Concord Animal Hospital, said people should really exercise common sense in taking care of their pets in the heat.

"If it is hot for you, it is hot for the dogs," Fisher said in a phone interview with Patch Thursday morning.

Fisher advised owners not to take their dogs out for a run when it is 95 degrees out.

He explained that, for example, when running with a dog, the dog does not have athletic shoes on and as a result on particularly hot days they will blister their footpads.

Further, he said dogs aren't able to perspire like humans.

"The only way they get rid of heat is by panting," Fisher said, which is particularly why in the heat an owner has to watch their dog closely.

If owners want to exercise their dogs, it is important that owners take their dogs out during the coolest part of the day — in the morning and evening— according to Fisher.

Fisher added that if dogs are to be left outside during the day it is important an owner has water for them and makes sure they have shade and aren't left in the sun.

"If they seem hot, cool them off with a hose," Fisher said.

Most important, Fisher said an owner should not leave their dog in a hot car on a hot day, even with the windows down, because the car heats up quickly.

While Fisher has not seen any cases of heat exhaustion in dogs, the signs to watch out for include heavy panting followed by a collapse, and then elevated temperatures of 105 to 106 degrees.

If any owner sees these symptoms in their dog, they should bring them to the vet, according to Fisher.