Pets feel the heat more than people. So let’s all give our pets a break and remember that they need help to stay cool.
Dogs only sweat through their tongue and feet, cats too. That’s not a great way to keep cool when they are wearing a fur coat and it’s almost 100 degrees in many parts of the U.S.
Did you know they can have heat stroke when they are in prolonged temperatures over 90 degrees? That’s true. The reason is that their body temperatures rise faster than they can cool themselves. The best place for our furry friends in these temperatures is inside in the air conditioning with us.
If that is not an option, shade and water are essential, but that doesn’t mean your pet will be safe outside in the heat. Some people also give their pets summer haircuts, which is not always a good idea. The fur insulates from heat, as well as cold, and pets also get skin cancer and sunburn. I recommend talking to your veterinarian before shearing your dog or cat.
The other consideration is the hot pavement. Temperatures skyrocket during the hottest part of the day. If you can’t touch the pavement with your hand or walk on it barefooted, your pet is burning his or her paws too. Have you noticed that service dogs wear boots and even many of the Iditarod teams now protect their paws? There is a reason. It is safer and healthier for the dogs.
In summer, animals can burn the pads over and over, which causes a great deal of pain. There are also stickers, broken glass, and bug bites to consider. In the winter, salts and chemicals damage the pads and may be toxic when the animals lick their paws to clean off the snow and chemicals. It takes some work to get them used to the boots. However, it is cheaper than the vet bill you may get without them.
More about summer safety later. Now, go have fun–safely.
