Take extra care with your pets
With the Bay Area baking in triple-digit temperatures, it’s important not to neglect our pets. Here are some tips for keeping them cool. • Never, ever leave your pet inside a parked car — even if you crack the windows, even if you park in the shade. Temperatures increase rapidly inside those metal machines and it doesn’t take long for your pets to become stressed. When you go out, leave them at home. • If your pets spend a portion of their time outside, make sure there is plenty of water and shade for them. For dogs, invest in a child’s wading pool so they can get inside and splash around if they want. • Consider freezing a bowl of water and then dropping the ice inside a drinking bowl. The animals can lick it to cool off and get moisture. You also can add ice cubes to the water. • For indoor pets, leave the air conditioner on when you go out. If you can’t, then leave fans running and create cool spots for your pets. Cats love curling up in a sink, but you also can buy cooling pads for pets. • Always provide water for your pets. Keeping hydrated will do a lot toward keeping them cool. • Many people shave their dogs and cats during the summer, but you might want to rethink that. Experts say that dogs’ and cats’ coats are insulating not just against the cold, but also against the heat. A haircut and brushing can remove dead hair and might help them, but there’s probably no need to shave them. • Don’t shave your cat unless there is a medical reason to. Cats are able to withstand higher temperatures much better than we are. Removing the fur can make them less comfortable. • If you walk your dog, especially on concrete sidewalkspaths and or roads, asphalt avoid walking during the hottest times of the day. Temperatures on concrete and asphalt can be 20 to 30 degrees hotter than the air temperature, and dogs’ paw pads will burn if the temperature is 125 degrees and higher. Try walking early in the morning, or later in the evening. If you can change your path to one that is
more shaded and has dirt, grass or mulched areas, that would be good, too. • If you aren’t comfortable exercising in the heat, then your pets aren’t going to be either. Take it easy until the temperatures cool off. Know the symptoms of stroke) hyperthermiain your pets: (heat • Panting • Dehydration • Excessive drooling • Rapid heart rate or an irregular heat beat • Very red gums • Your pet stops urinating, or it produces very little • Vomiting • Blood in the stool • Mental confusion • Seizures or muscle tremors • Unsteady walk • Unconsciousness If your pets experience any of these symptoms, seek first aid immediately. Provide water, get them into a cool spot, and take them to a vet’s office for treatment. Organ failure can begin soon after the symptoms start, so the sooner emergency aid is administered, the better.