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October 2010

Heat, The Sun, And Your Pet

byRuth Diehl

Summer is here in Las Vegas, and the brutal heat is already upon us. The “dry heat” our city is known for can be even worse when it comes to our beloved animals. Many dog owners think nothing of packing their dogs into their car to run errands and cruise around town. When the weather is cool, this is indeed a great outing for your canine. However, now that temperatures are reaching the 90’s and above, pet lovers must take caution when traveling with their animals.

The most important thing anyone can say, and it can’t be said enough is: do not leave your dog in the car. Just in case you missed that: do not leave your dog in the car! While the temperature outside may seem bearable if not beautiful, the heat in your car can spike to well over 110 degrees (even up to 150!) in just a few minutes. You may not intend on being gone from your car for even more than a minute . . . but what if you are?
While it is important to keep your dogs active and exercising even during the warmer months, outdoor activities require more pre-plan­ning and consideration for our four legged friends.

If you take your dog for long walks or runs, do so in the early morning hours or later in the evening when it is at its coolest. If you are originally from another part of the U.S., you may be used to the hottest point of the day being around noon. This is not the case here in Las Vegas. Temperatures reach their highest in the late afternoon, so keep your dogs indoors. A bathroom and a baby gate works perfectly. When you do walk your dog, invest in a good pair of booties. They will keep your dogs paws protected from brutal pavement burns. If you think these aren’t a necessity, try walking barefoot on the pavement and you’ll quickly change your mind. Being a responsible pet parent will ensure that your pets live long healthy lives.

Summer Safety Tips For Your Pets:

Unlike us, our pets can’t change their clothes or turn on an air conditioner to stay cool. It is imperative that we pay attention and try our best to keep our friends cool and healthy. Here are a few tips to help keep heat issues at bay:

1. Always have fresh water available (in back yard, hikes, picnics, etc.) . Many pet stores carry collapsible pet bowls that make providing fresh drinking water for your pet very easy and travel-savvy. Please remember that many pets may need some conditioning prior to spring time activities.

2. Never leave your pet in the car!! Even if it’s just for a few min­utes, a car’s inside temperature can reach deadly temperatures very quickly, especially here in Las Vegas. Even on a nice day, 88° outside can get up to 120° inside a car, even with the windows cracked.

3. Keep an eye on your pool. If you only have a ladder leading out of your pool it is possible for a dog to fall in and not be able to climb out. Dogs are naturally great swimmers but they do need to be able to get out of the water if they tire.

4. Shade of some kind is very important for pets. Temperatures here in Las Vegas can get brutal for anyone, but imagine being covered in hair! It can be dozens of degrees cooler in the shade than in the sun. Also, the patio/cement/rocks can get blisteringly hot during the day (literally) and our four legged friends need somewhere to stand that won’t burn their poor feet.

5. The 4th of July can be a very stressful time for pets. Many dogs and cats get very scared and can even run away. Keep dogs away from fireworks at all times, and if possible keep indoors in a crate with his or her favorite toy.

Resources: www.aspca.org
Pictured: Annie, the Diehl Family Dog Picture Provided by Ruth Diehl