KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Its going to be a hot week with temperatures in the mid 90s. While you keep yourself cool in this hot weather, don’t forget the scorching heat can be harmful to your pets too.
Dogs and cats can suffer from the same problems that humans do, such as overheating, dehydration and even sunburn.
Wayside Waifs of Kansas City has seven easy tips to keep your pets happy and healthy.
1. Keep pets inside.
2. Never leave your pet alone in a vehicle—heat exhaustion can be fatal. Even with the windows open, a parked automobile can quickly become a furnace in no time.
3. Walk your dog in the morning when the heat and humidity are best.
4. Don’t let your dog stand on hot asphalt. Their body temperature can rise quickly and sensitive paw pads can burn.
5. Get a long hair dog groomed for the summer. Long haired breeds can be shaved to a one-inch coat. Never shave down to the skin as this robs the dog of their protection from the sun.
6. Be sensitive to older and overweight animals in hot weather. Snub-nosed dogs such as bulldogs, pugs, Boston terriers, Lhasa apsos and shih tzus, as well as those with heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.
7. Do not apply any sunscreen or insect repellent product to your pet that is not labeled specifically for use on animals. Ingestion of sunscreen products can result in drooling, diarrhea, excessive thirst and lethargy. The misuse of insect repellent that contains DEET can lead to neurological problems.
