Austin Veterinarian’s Tips for Keeping Pets Cool
Pets can overheat more quickly than we humans realize especially due to their fur coats and inability to sweat. In fact, heatstroke is a veterinary emergency that sends all too many pets to the animal clinic every summer. Our Austin veterinarian urges pet owners to keep their pets cool this (and every) summer with the following tips:
Avoid Heat-Related Trips to the Animal Hospital This Summer!
Simple things like keeping your pets in breezy, shady or air-conditioned areas with plenty of fresh, cool drinking water can go a long way to preventing any emergency trips to our animal hospital.
Cars become ovens in the summer, so never leave your pet alone in one. This is how many veterinary tragedies occur.
Time your pet’s walks and jogs for early in the morning or late at night when it is cooler out. Play in the grass where their foot pads can get ventilation (this is one of the few places pets can sweat).
Dehydration happens quickly and can require an animal hospital visit. We can’t mention it enough: always make sure your pet has enough water.
Be sensitive to your pet’s individual needs. Short-snouted dogs and cats (pugs, bulldogs, boxers, Persians) cannot pant as effectively as longer-snouted breeds. Cold-weather dogs like Malamutes and Huskies have a hard time in hot weather. Dogs with heart and respiratory diseases, overweight dogs and older dogs are all more heat sensitive. Ask our Austin veterinarian for advice about your pet.
Invest in a kiddie pool or let your pet run through the sprinkler! Just remember pets need constant supervision when around water.
Long-haired pets do better with a summer-trim to their fur so that it’s not as thick and long. Talk with our veterinary team about summer grooming!
Be able to recognize heatstroke: desperate panting and difficulty breathing, a temp of 104+, and lethargy are symptoms you must not ignore! Cool your pet with wet towels and drive to our animal hospital immediately.
What other ways do you and your pet enjoy staying cool in the summer?