Pet News
Clarksville, TN – With temperatures reaching an expect 98 degrees today and 99 degrees tomorrow, it is important to think out your outdoor pets. Pets left outside need to be provided with a shaded area for protection from the sun.
It is also important to provide them with plenty of cool drinking water. I stress cool water because water that has been left out in the warm weather will reach temperatures of 70 to 80 degrees even in the shade. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like drinking warm or hot water and neither does your pet.
It is also important not to leave you pet in a parked car. Even if you leave you car parked in the shade, with widows partially down for ventilation, is a mistake if the outdoor surrounding temperature exceeds 75 degrees. Think it’s ok to leave a pet in the car for a few minutes while you run into a store to pick up a couple of quick items? Well it’s not. Research has shown that a parked car, with windows partially down, with an outdoor temperature of 78 degrees can hit an inside temperature up to 90 degrees in 5 minutes and 110 degrees in 25 minutes.
With the area temperatures being in the high 90’s for the past few days and expected to stay in the 90’s for the rest of the week, it is even more important to take care of you outdoor pets and to not take them with you in the car if they will be left in the car for any length of time. With outside temperatures of 90 degrees, research has shown that the inside of a car will heat up to 112 degrees in 15 minutes, 125 degrees in 30 minutes and a whooping 160 degrees in 180 minutes.
In high temperatures like we have been having, the main danger to pets is heatstroke. Pet heatstroke symptons include rapid panting, heavy salivation, vomiting, an anxious or staring expression, fast pulse rate and high body temperature. If left untreated, these conditions can lead to braid damage and death.
Prevention is the best treatment for heatstroke. Take care of your outdoor pets. Give them plenty of shade and cool drinking water. Never take you pet with you if the pet will be left in the car alone for any period of time.
If you pet shows any of the signs of heat stroke or heat exhaustion, immerse their body in cool (not cold) water or pour cool water over them. Ice packs can be placed on the animal’s head as well. Once the animal stabilizes, take them imediately to a veterinarian for treatment.
