By Lauren Malmberg, Peoria County Animal Protection Services
Summer is a season of warm weather. While we may bask in the hot sun, our companion animals encounter particular problems during warm weather and can be quite at risk in extreme temperatures. Please keep these tips in mind for your pet during these warm summer months:
- All animals must have plenty of fresh water at all times. Be sure your pet can’t turn over his water bucket. Change the water frequently enough to prevent algae buildup. We should change water for cattle, horses, and other livestock routinely as well. (A horse requires 5-10 gallons of water each day.) Be sure the water is clean, and monitor the water levels to ensure the animals are drinking.
- Even on beautiful days, you have to be sure your animal can get to a shady area. A doghouse isn’t enough — pets must be able to get into shade if kept outdoors. Horses and cattle need to get out of the sun, too. Be sure to provide a loafing shed or overhang to create shade for livestock.
- If your pet shows signs of heat exhaustion (excessive panting, lethargy, unresponsive), seek veterinary care immediately. Minutes count in this situation. Call your veterinarian for advice on how to bring your pet’s body temperature down while you transport him to the veterinary office.
- Parasites can be more than a nuisance during the summer; they can create real danger. Watch for fleas, ticks, flies, and mosquitoes. Fleas left untreated can cause severe skin allergies as well as anemia. Ticks carry Lyme disease and mosquitoes can transmit heartworm to your dog. Flies may be seen as just a nuisance, but they can actually eat away a dog’s nose or ears in severe cases. Please see your veterinarian for prevention and treatment.
- Some people provide kiddie pools in which their dogs can cool down. These plastic pools are inexpensive and easy to maneuver. If you take your dog swimming in a lake or pool though, be sure to rinse his coat off afterward to get rid of algae, chemicals, or salt water. Watch out for water in their ears, too!
- Hose down horses or livestock to provide some relief from the heat. You can also provide circulation by placing fans in the barns for stalled horses.
- Be careful about shaving your dog; the layers of a dog’s coat protect him from overheating and sunburn. Check with your vet before you shave.
- Most importantly, leave your pet at home and not in your car! The temperature in a car in warm weather can reach dangerous levels within minutes. Pets left in these cars — even with the windows cracked — can experience heat stroke or even die.
- If you regularly jog with your dog, you may want to reconsider this in really hot weather. Dogs can only cool themselves through panting (they don’t sweat!), and excessive exercise, when they may already be quite warm, can be disastrous. Also, that hot asphalt can actually burn your dog’s pads — be careful!
- Flat-faced dogs and cats like Pugs, French Bulldogs, and Persian cats cannot pant and cool down as effectively as longer-muzzled pets. Pay extra attention that they don’t get overheated.
The Fourth of July can also be quite hard on animals. Please keep your pet inside to ensure he doesn’t panic and run off during fireworks displays. The loud noises, smoke, and chaotic atmosphere can scare, or even injure, dogs and cats. Leave your pet at home; don’t take him to a backyard cookout or community event. Large crowds and the noisy fireworks can scare any animal, and frightened pets can bite, putting him and others in danger. The best place for your pet during any fireworks display is at home, inside, where he cannot become lost or injured.
Under the law, pet owners must provide proper care for their animals. If you see an animal who looks abandoned, neglected, or in distress, please call local animal control or law enforcement. Your call can mean the difference between responsible, humane care for the animal or a lifetime of suffering. Peoria County Animal Protection Services can help if you lose your pet or see an animal injured or in need. 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. Call 309-642-9299 or e-mail waggintailsresort@gmail.com for your dog’s boarding, doggy daycare, and grooming needs. Soon to open in Peoria!
Photo credit: kellyvandellen/iStock, Photo credit: horsemen/iStock