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Summer doesn't officially begin for another week and I don't know about your city, but already the D.C. area has been hit with oppressively high temperatures and weird bouts of heavy rain more commonly seen later in the season.
Although this is the first summer in 13 years that I haven't had to look out for the impact of heat and humidity on a dog as physically challenged by both as my Boston Terrier, I'm reminded that this change of seasons and temperature is a critical time to look out for the well-being of our pets.
First of all, I can't say it loud enough: do not leave your pet in a vehicle for longer than two minutes if you must. I hope this isn't an issue for you, but still, I have to say it. It isn't fair and it is ultimately quite dangerous. Rather than rant, I'll point to a list of groups that write about this issue sanely and helpfully. PAW Rescue, right up the road from me in Greenbelt, Md., has a nice list of tips.
Animals are not able to sweat like humans do. Dogs cool themselves by panting and by sweating through their paws. If they have only overheated air to breathe, animals can collapse, suffer brain damage and possibly die of heatstroke. Just 15 minutes can be enough for an animal's body temperature to climb from a normal 102.5 to deadly levels that will damage the nervous and cardiovascular systems, often leaving the animal comatose, dehydrated and at risk of permanent impairment or death.
Check this story from Albemarle, Va., that says police are checking temperatures inside vehicles with infrared guns before they give out citations that can lead to $250 fines and up to a year in jail.
It's a BlogHim, but I love that the Baltimore Sun has the Mutts Blog by John Woestendiek. He wrote about seasonal safety for pets during our stupid heat wave last week.
Even with the windows cracked, even in the shade, a parked automobile can quickly become a furnace.
On an 85-degree day, for example, the temperature inside a car with the windows opened slightly can reach 102 degrees within 10 minutes. After 30 minutes, the temperature will reach 120 degrees. At 110 degrees, pets are in danger of heatstroke, according to the Humane Society of the United States(HSUS).
A recent study by the Stanford University School of Medicine showed that temperatures inside cars can rise dramatically even on mild days. With outside temperatures as low as 72 degrees, researchers found that a car's interior temperature can heat up by an average of 40 degrees within an hour, with 80 percent of that increase in the first 30 minutes.
Also, if you see a dog in that condition, please call your local animal welfare agency. I did this last summer when I walked by a car where a dog was scratching at the (closed) window in 80-degree weather. The response I got was not what I would have liked ("the sun is down, ma'am, but we'll send a cruiser by when we can." What?) but I felt better calling all the same.
The Humane Society of the United States has an information page devoted to pets in hot cars (including flyers and posters you can print yourself.)and gives these directions for caring for pets with heatstroke:
In case of an emergency, it's important to be able to identify the symptoms of heat stress caused by exposure to extreme temperatures. Check the animal for signs of heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid heartbeat, restlessness, excessive thirst, lethargy, fever, dizziness, lack of coordination, profuse salivation, vomiting, a deep red or purple tongue, and unconsciousness.
If the animal shows symptoms of heatstroke, take steps to gradually lower her body temperature immediately. Follow these tips, and it could save her life:
- Move the animal into the shade or an air-conditioned area.
- Apply ice packs or cold towels to her head, neck, and chest or immerse her in cool (not cold) water.
- Let her drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes.
- Take her directly to a veterinarian.
Pets tend to like the sun and don't know to tell you when they need to come in. Always err on the side of caution and make water readily available.
Sandy at Fetch the Paper: for Bay Area Pets and Their People reminds readers that heat
