This Summer Remember
No Hot Pets!
Nothing gets people more excited than the prospect of a warm, sunny summer day! What many pet owners don’t realize is that the summer sun can turn a car, even with the windows cracked, into a deadly situation for their pet.
A dog’s body temperature averages 38°C, and they are only able to physically withstand approximately 41°C for a very short time. That’s a difference of only three degrees! After that, a dog can become victim to heat stroke, brain damage and death.
When you consider that a car – even parked in the shade with the windows cracked open – can be 50°C hotter inside than the temperature outside within an hour, it creates a deadly situation for a pet that can’t cry for help. Leave your pet at home when running errands, no matter how quick you plan to be.
It’s easy for you to grab a glass of water or stash a water bottle in the car, but it’s not as easy for your pet. Fresh, clean water is important to keep them hydrated especially in the summer. If your pet is a short-nosed breed, or elderly, owners must be particularly vigilant to ensure the heat and humidity doesn’t impact their breathing.
Edie the Pug
Plan to exercise your dog during early mornings and later in the evenings when it is not as hot. During the middle of the day, hot asphalt can burn your pet’s paws, so stick to grass or the sidewalk when out for walks.
Cooling down your pet can involve allowing them access to shade, hosing them down with cool water or creating a shallow area (such as a plastic children’s pool) with fresh water where they can splash if they like.
The summer is a great time to enjoy with your family and pets. If you take the appropriate precautions, you will have a wonderful and safe summer with your furry friends!
The Ontario SPCA encourages you to visit the “Downloads” section of their No Hot Pets website www.nohotpets.ca to access the Facebook banner, decals, posters and leaflets to share within your community to help spread the word to not leave pets unattended in hot vehicles.
To learn more about the dangers of leaving pets unattended in hot vehicles, please visit www.nohotpets.ca.
May 21, 2014
This is a very important post! I will share 🙂 Just out of curiosity, have you yourself ever come across a dog shut inside a car on a warm day? If so, what did you do? I have never been in this situation, and I’m not sure of the protocol – would you just call animal control?
May 22, 2014
I have been fortunate not to have witness a dog or pet left in a car on a hot day, but if you find yourself in this situation, where you observe an animal suffering in the heat, you can contact the Ontario SPCA, your local humane society or call your local police services.
May 21, 2014
Spread the word near and far….protecting dogs and pets from the heat will SAVE LIVES !
May 21, 2014
Great reminders. Our dogs are not fans of the water, but we have resorted to hosing them down when its really hot. They like to dig cool spots to hang out in the shade, but we restrict the amount of time when its hot they can hang out in their yard. Ice cubes were a suggestion we got when Bailey was a pup because he tends to not be a drinker. He thinks he’s getting a frozen bone and he’s getting water at the same time.
May 21, 2014
Edie is not a big fan of water either, and with all squishy face breeds, we have to be extra careful with her in the hot weather. Since Edie is not a big drinker either, we make “pugscicles” in the warm weather. We add a bit of broth and some treats such as banana pieces, carrots, even bits of treats and freeze them into small blocks. She loves these treats, it cools her down, and as a bonus, it gets some fluids into her.
May 21, 2014
Thanks Edie, we need to spread the word every summer to keep pets safe. Shared it and tweeted it!!
May 21, 2014
Thank you for spreading such an important message to keep our pets safe.