Summertime is a great time to enjoy the outdoors with pets – and as long as pet owners take precautions to prevent overheating.
Dehydration
Symptoms of dehydration include the gums of the mouth feeling tacky to touch and/or the skin may become slow to return to its natural position when pulled up.
In mild to moderate cases, giving your pet small amounts of water to drink over time will help, but in severe cases they’ll need IV fluids administered at your veterinary hospital. To prevent this, it’s important to have clean, fresh water available for your pet at all times, in a container that can’t be tipped over accidentally.
Heat stroke
Heat stroke is very serious. Symptoms include extreme panting, salivating, staggering, vomiting and diarrhea. As it becomes fatal, your pet will become comatose and their temperature will range from 104- 110°F. If your pet is experiencing heat stroke, call your veterinarian immediately – time is of the essence. Use cool water or soaking towel to bring the temperature down. However, do not let their temperature drop below 102-103°F as this can cause hypothermia. To prevent this situation, access to shade, ventilation and water are key, as well as avoiding exercise during the peak heat of the day
Sunburn
Sunburn will look similar on a pet as it would on a human, and typically occurs in non-pigmented areas that have less or no hair – often the ears and nose in many breeds, or the underside of the belly. Since dogs and cats might lick off their sunblock, access to shade is critical.
