Pets and Heat Wave Do Not Mix

Written by Whitney Cyr

Temperatures are hitting the mid to upper 90s this week, making safety for pets just as important as the safety for their owners.

“First and foremost, air conditioning. Keep your dog in air conditioning,” Sudbury Dog Officer Jennifer Condon said. “Fans can also circulate air.”

With heavy coats and thick fur, dogs and other pets may be more susceptible to the heat. Condon suggests that while taking dogs for a walk, make sure to walk them on grassy areas instead of pavement. The pavement radiates heat, which transfers into animals' paws.

“Also make sure you take them to shady areas,” Condon suggests. “If you’re in a big, wide open area, the heat and sun is going to affect them without the shade.”

In addition, Condon said she gets a lot of calls of dogs being left in vehicles around town. She strongly advises against leaving a dog in the car while going out.

“If you absolutely have to bring your pet, leave the car running with the doors locked and the air conditioning running,” she said. “It’s a major concern.”

Condon said the temperature in a car can jump up very quickly. Even if the owner runs into the bank, pets face a serious health threat of over heating without air conditioning because a windshield reflects heat into a car.

Most of all, Condon said, make sure a pet is properly hydrated.

"Make sure they always have a good supply of water,” she said.

Dogs run a higher body temperature than humans, and with a thick coat of fur, they can be more at risk for heat stroke.

For an overheated pet, who’s heavily panting or showing signs of sluggishness or fatigue after being in the heat too long, make sure to give them water or supply them with a cool wet towel on their backs to bring the temperature down. Limiting heavy exercise is another efficient way of reducing a dog’s susceptibility to overheating.

Condon said air conditioning and water were overall the best bets for making sure a pet doesn’t become a victim of the heat.

For an emergency, pets can be taken to the Sudbury Animal Hospital: http://sudburyanimalhospital.vetsourcecms.com/.