Tips For Keeping Your Pets Cool on These Hot Days

We're always worrying about ourselves and our kids when it get super-hot out, right? But what about those furry little friends of ours? I mean, of course we pay attention to our animals when it gets hot out, but here are some extra tips and tricks to keep them extra-cool when it gets extra-hot out!

Here are some tips and info I got from American Humane.org

A pet in a parked vehicle is not cool.
Even when it’s a comfortable 70 degrees outside, the temperature inside a parked car can climb to 90 degrees in just 10 minutes—and up to 110 degrees in less than hour—exposing our furry friends to serious risks of discomfort, illness and even death. Responsible animal lovers can do their part to help other pets in danger: if you see a distressed dog inside a parked car on a warm day, immediately call your local animal control or law enforcement for help.

During hot summer months, regular exercise can be dangerous for pets.
Even if your pets are active and in tip-top shape, you may want to adjust their activities to avoid midday sweltering temps during the summer. Remember, our furry friends can’t cool themselves as well as we can! They rely on panting and limited sweating through the bottoms of their paws to cool down. Take your pet outdoors during the early morning or late evening, which tend to be a bit cooler, to avoid overheating.

If your pet is left outdoors, ensure they have access to shade and fresh water at all times.
Even if you only plan to leave a pet outdoors in the backyard for just a few minutes, sometimes your quick errand can turn into a full afternoon away from your furry friend! Since temperatures in a yard can increase to dangerous levels within a short period of time, ensure your pet has a shaded area and bowl of fresh water nearby.

Be aware of the signs of heat stroke.
Signs of heat stroke include excessive panting, dark or bright red tongue and gums, lethargy, stumbling, seizures, bloody diarrhea or vomiting, and coma. If you suspect your pet is suffering from heat stroke, you should seek veterinary treatment as soon as possible. You can provide some immediate treatment using cool (but not icy) water to lower your pet’s temperature by submerging the pet in a tub of water, wetting him with a hose or sponging him down. If your pet showed signs of heat stroke but has been cooled and now appears fine, do not assume that all is well. Internal organs, such as the liver, kidneys and the brain, are all affected by extreme body temperature elevation. It is best to have a veterinarian examine your pet to assess potential health complications and ensure that other risks are not overlooked.