Prevent heat injuries to your pet

#MiddleburyCT #Dog #HeatInjuries

DEAR PAW’S CORNER: I recently visited an older relative who owns two dogs. Here in the Northeast, air conditioning isn’t common in older houses, and it’s been fairly hot for the past several weeks. When I went in, I saw both her dogs were lying down and panting because it was so warm inside. There was no water for them, so I filled up their bowls and added a couple of ice cubes to each one. They both drank nearly all the water. Please remind your readers that heat is dangerous for pets of all kinds, and even if they’re at home and indoors, they’re at risk. Sign me – Concerned Cousin in Manchester, New Hampshire

DEAR CONCERNED: Thank you. You just reminded them, and you’re absolutely right. Water needs to be available to pets at all times, indoors or out.

Heat injuries are no joke. They can permanently injure or kill pets (and people). While much attention has been given to not keeping pets inside cars during the warm months, there are more danger areas to be aware of.

• Never lock your pet inside a car, even if you leave it running. There are laws against this in many areas.
• If your dog is out in the yard, make sure they have a shady area to rest with plenty of fresh, cold water. Monitor them frequently: every 10 to 15 minutes.
• Homes without air conditioning can get very hot and stuffy, endangering pets of all types.
• Maintain airflow at all times with a fan and open windows, and always have water available.
• Outdoor recreation with a pet hiking, relaxing on the beach or playing at the park is fun, but be sure to bring enough water for them to drink. (Tip: Keep dogs away from still bodies of water, like ponds, during the hottest months. Algae and bacteria flourish at these times.)

When a pet shows signs of heat stress panting, lying down, whining or mewing get them to a cooler room immediately. If they don’t improve, contact the veterinarian.

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