Heat advisory: Pet, livestock safety urged during rising temperatures

With Garland County still under a heat advisory, livestock owners and pet owners alike should take steps to protect their animals from the excessive heat, according to the University of Arkansas.

“Overheating can cause animals to lose their appetites, become fatigued, and in extreme cases, die,” Dr. David Fernandez said in a news release from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

Garland County remains under a heat advisory until 7 p.m. today, according to the National Weather Service. As of 5 p.m. Friday, the air temperature in Hot Springs was 106 degrees, according to the recording station at Hot Springs Memorial Field.

Fernandez said the two processes animals gain heat from are conduction and radiation. Conduction occurs when heat is transferred from an object to an animal and radiation is when light hits an animal’s body and fur and absorbs heat.

“Between internal heat generation and external warming on hot days, an animal can overheat,” Fernandez said.

One concern with overheated animals is a loss of appetite and elevated temperatures, usually 107 degrees, can result in the animal’s death.

In order to prevent livestock overheating, Fernandez said the animals should reduce activity levels and seek shade.

“Livestock do not need to live in air-conditioned comfort — they are well-adapted to both the heat and cold of Arkansas,” Fernandez said in the release. “Providing shade and cool water can help make your livestock more comfortable during hot summer weather.”

While the city has no current ordinances requiring household pets to be housed during rising temperatures, Ivy Wood, president of the Garland County Humane Society, said she plans to meet with Hot Springs city directors in order to make changes.

Wood said protecting pets from overheating is important, noting shaved dogs can be susceptible to sunburns and it is common for pets to overheat through the pads of their feet.

“Animals shouldn’t be walking on pavement or hot surfaces in this heat, they need protection,” Wood said. “Dogs and cats alike need to be way more hydrated.”

Wood said the Humane Society has shaded areas for all of the animals housed outside and fills plastic kid pools with cool water every morning to prevent the dogs from overheating.

“The dogs just love splashing around, playing and laying in those pools,” Wood said.