It feels like there’s always something new to worry about when you’re a pet parent, especially in the summer. From keeping your dog off hot pavement to making sure they’re wearing a life vest near the pool, it’s important to know all the right ways of maximizing their safety.
Yfat Yossifor, who works for KERA News as a photojournalist, spoke with her pet’s veterinarian, Dr. Matt Murphy, to learn more about how to keep dogs safe once Texas temperatures start to rise even higher than they are currently. One of the first things Dr. Murphy mentioned was testing pavement before taking your beloved pooch on a walk.
To do that properly, Dr. Murphy said to place the back of your hand on the concrete or asphalt and hold it there for seven seconds. If you can’t hold it in place for that length of time without hurting yourself, the ground is too hot for your dog to walk on. He suggested planning your walks for early morning or right before sunset, as these are the coolest times of day.
One big thing to avoid entirely is leaving your dog in the car when it’s hot out, especially if it’s over 70 degrees outside. Dr. Murphy said, “They will overheat very rapidly there. Studies have shown that sometimes as little as minutes in the car will be enough to kill your dog.”
In terms of keeping them safe at home, ASPCA recommends keeping unscreened doors and windows closed and tightly securing all adjustable screens, particularly during times where your pets are home alone. Animals can easily fall out of windows or through doors, which can lead to serious injuries or worse.
How to spot overheating and what to do about it
A major issue for pets in the summer is overheating. Dr. Matt Murphy said several telltale signs exist, and it’s best to keep an eye out for each so you can administer proper care to prevent the condition from worsening. Signs of overheating in dogs include sluggish movements, excessive panting, staying low to the ground, and a change in the color of their gums—they’ll be dark red or white if your canine companion is getting too hot.
French bull dogs, pugs, and other breeds with smushed faces tend to overheat more quickly than others. Regardless of what type of dog you have though, if you think they’re overheating, get them somewhere cool as soon as possible. You can also use lukewarm water to bring their internal temperature down.
Dr. Murphy said to always start with lukewarm water and then gradually use cooler and cooler water. Immediately starting with cold water can actually worsen their condition, as going from extreme heat to extreme cold decreases their blood flow and increases the temperature of their cores.
Keeping your pet safe in the water
Determining whether a body of water is safe for your dog to swim in is easy if you follow one simple rule, according to Dr. Murphy: “If you don’t think it’s safe for you to swim in, your dog doesn’t swim in it.” Even if you do deem it safe, don’t let your dog drink the pond, lake, or pool water under any circumstances.
Chlorine isn’t safe for canines to ingest, and lakes and ponds can carry harmful bacteria that may lead to kidney or liver failure or even death. Dr. Murphy also recommended getting your dogs vaccinated against leptospirosis, which is a condition they can develop from bacterial ingestion.
If you’re planning on taking your dog swimming, they should always wear a life jacket. Dr. Murphy said some breeds aren’t strong swimmers, but generally speaking, all of them should wear a life jacket for safety. Plus, you’ll need to gradually introduce them to the water to help them get used to it.
And remember: Rinse your pets off once they get out of a pool, lake, pond, or the ocean to remove salt, chlorine, and anything else from their fur.
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
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