By Lauren Malmberg, Peoria County Animal Protection Services
Finally, warm weather has arrived in Central Illinois! Warmer temperatures mean pets need special care. The extreme temperatures of an Illinois summer require that owners pay special attention to their animals to prevent heat-related problems. Besides the hot sun, pets can also suffer from exposure to parasites like flies, mosquitoes, and ticks. This summer, let’s protect our animal friends by keeping these important tips in mind:
Most Important, Leave Your Pet at Home on Hot Days.
While you may love your pet so much you want to take him with you, leaving your pet in a car on a hot day can seriously injure or kill him. It’s just too dangerous. Even with the windows open, the inside of the car can reach more than 160 degrees in just a few minutes. Each summer in the Peoria area, an animal suffers from heat exhaustion or dies because they’ve been left inside a hot car. Save your pet by leaving him home on hot days! And, state and local laws prohibit an owner from leaving their dog in a hot car — you can be cited and your animal impounded if you violate this ordinance.
Fresh, Clean Water
Fresh, clean water is a must for all animals. Without water, pets can get dehydrated and quickly succumb to heat exhaustion. Dogs may tip over the bowls or buckets so it’s a good idea to anchor their water so they have access to it all day. The water needs to be changed daily as well — when it sits in the hot sun, algae can develop.
Relief From the Sun
Make sure your pet can get to shade throughout the day. A doghouse may provide protection from rain, but it can be an oven on very hot days. Watch your yard throughout the day to ensure your dog can always get out of the sun — often the shady part of the yard in the morning ends up being in direct sunlight in the afternoon.
Keep Inside
On really hot days, take your pet inside if possible. With a heat index over 100 degrees, pets will do better inside with air conditioning. Or, put your pet in a cool area of your house like the basement. Certain breeds of dogs — those suited for very cold weather — can be particularly uncomfortable in our humid, hot weather. Huskies, Malamutes, Samoyeds, and others who do great in cold temperatures can really suffer in an Illinois summer. Keep your pet’s breed in mind when determining where they’ll live.
Signs of Distress
If you see your pet showing signs of distress — excessive panting or lethargic behavior — or should he become unresponsive, seek veterinary care immediately. Don’t wait — extreme heat can cause brain damage and death very quickly. Call your veterinarian for ways to bring your pet’s body temperature down while you’re transporting him to the veterinary office.
Flea and Tick Protection
Warm weather also brings out the bugs. Fleas, flies, ticks, and mosquitoes create all kinds of problems for dogs and cats. Flies can actually eat away a dog’s ears — prevent this type of injury by using a fly repellent for outside dogs. Fleas not only make a pet miserable with itching and scratching, they can actually cause your pet to be anemic. Ticks and mosquitoes can transmit Lyme disease or heartworm. Consult your veterinarian for prevention or treatment possibilities.
Summer holidays are great, but our favorite, the 4th of July, presents special threats for pets. Each year, dogs and cats panic and run off when frightened by fireworks and the chaotic atmosphere that go along with them. Worse, a roaming or lost cat or dog can fall victim to torment or torture.
Firecrackers, bottle rockets, spinners, and other retail fireworks injure animals each year. Mixing pyrotechnics and pets can create a danger for people as well. At a backyard cookout or at the community fireworks event, a dog frightened by the noise and light can bite — putting itself and others in danger.
The best place for your pet during any fireworks display is at home and inside where he/she cannot become lost or injured. If you lose your pet during the July 4 festivities, be sure to check with local animal control to find him.
Peoria County Animal Protection Services can help if you lose your pet, or see an animal injured or who isn’t receiving proper care. Call PCAPS at 309-672-2440 for information or to report animal cruelty or abuse.
This article is sponsored by Waggin’ Tails Doggy Daycare and Resort, Goodfield, IL. Email waggintailsresort@gmail.com or call 309-642-9299 for your dog’s boarding, doggy day care, and grooming needs.
Photo credit: Ju-Lee/Thinkstock