Heat Stress and Your Pet

Heat stress is a warning sign that your pet is about to suffer a medical emergency.
Travel, as experienced in summer vacation travel, or during evacuation road traffic,
is a prime condition to make your pet sick.

Follow these simple steps to keep your pet healthy on the road.

• Keep your pet cool. The best place for your pet to travel is in the car with you. If your vehicle does not have air conditioning, buy a fan that plugs into your car cigarette lighter and roll down the windows. Even then, make frequent stops every hour so your pet can get into the shade or into an air conditioned building.
   

• NEVER travel with your pet in the bed of a pickup truck-the sun beats down and the heat of the metal floor can burn them.
   

• NEVER leave your pet in a car that’s not running. Though it may seem cool outside, the sun can raise the temperature inside your car to 120 degrees Fahrenheit in a matter of minutes, even with the windows rolled down.
   

• Water, water, everywhere. Take frequent rest stops to let your pet drink water. You can also pour a cupful of water in the bottom of the pet carrier. The pet can lap it up and also lay in it to cool down. If your pet refuses to drink (a common problem in stressed animals,) use a medicine dropper to drip some on his/her tongue. Letting the pet drink children’s rehydration fluid (like Pedialyte) will also help.
   

• Sunburn in animals can cause problems similar to those it can cause in people. Rub a bit of sun block on unprotected areas like the tips of ears, the skin around lips, and the tip of the nose.
   

• Don’t overexercise your pet when stopping. Raising the pet’s body temperature will only stress it further when returning to his crate. A gentle walk is all it needs.
   

• Humidity interferes with an animals' ability to rid itself of excess body heat. To rid itself of excess heat, an animal pants or sweats through its paws. Although this is a very efficient way to control body heat, it is severely limited in areas of high humidity or when the animal is in close quarters.
   

• Elderly, very young, and ill pets have a hard time regulating their body temperature. Cats, and dogs with snub noses, such as Pekingese, pugs, and bulldogs, have a hard time staying cool because they can’t pant efficiently, so they also need to stay out of the heat. Overweight pets are also more prone to overheating. Any type of exotic pet such as birds, and reptiles must have controlled temperatures to survive.
   

• Heatstroke is a medical emergency that can lead to brain damage or death.
  
  Is your pet displaying these signs?
   

  • Panting

  • Staring

  • Anxious expression

  • Refusal to obey commands

  • Rapid heartbeat

  • High fever

  • Warm, dry skin, which, if pinched, stay ‘tented’

  • Excessive listlessness or hyperactivity

  • Vomiting

  • Collapse

  • Seizures
     

• If you suspect your pet has heatstroke, you must act quickly.
   

  • Get the animal into air conditioning, or if you are not near a building, into deep shade.

  • Soak a towel or tee shirt in cool water and wipe down the animal’s body. Apply the wet towel to areas where fur is thinnest, as well as backs of knees, insides of legs, and throat, which will lower the pet’s temperature quickest.

  • Give your animal cool water to drink. If the pet won’t drink, use a medicine dropper to drip cool water in the pet’s mouth, or let the pet lick water from your fingers.

  • Get your pet to the nearest veterinarian.
     

Often the pet will respond after only a few minutes of cooling, only to falter again with his temperature soaring back up or falling to well below what is normal. Don’t be fooled by a quick recovery-go see a vet! Vet treatment may include further cooling techniques, intravenous fluid therapy to counter shock, or medication to prevent or reverse brain damage. Even with emergency treatment, heatstroke can be fatal. The best cure is prevention, and Fido and Fluffy are relying on you to keep them out of harm's way.

Your Pets will thank you!