With a triple digit heat wave looming over much of the United States, including Texas, many people are beginning to take precautions to stay cool. But it's often the safety of our littlest family members that we forget to protect when the thermometer soars through the roof.
"This is the time of the year the veterinary clinics have dog and dog, and cat and cat coming in," says Dr. Janice Price with the Windmill Animal Hospital, "and it can be prevented and folks really need to know how to spot it."
The first sign your little one is struggling with the heat, is excessive panting and animals that seem wobbly on their feet. Other symptoms of heat stress include vomiting, laziness, and a body temperature that rises above 107 degrees.
To reduce the risk of heat exhaustion for your outdoor animal, Dr. Price recommends three simple tips if temperatures are above 85 degrees:
1. Make sure there is a shady area your pet can escape to in order to stay out of the direct sunlight.
2. Keep some source of moving air around them at all times, like a portable fan air conditioner.
3. Pets must have access to a source of cool water, that stays out of sunlight.
"The reason they need those three things is dogs and cats can't sweat," explains Dr. Price. "All they can do to cool themselves off is pant."
If untreated, heat exhaustion can lead to serious complications in your pet, especially if their core temperature rises above 107 degrees.
"Their brain will lose function, their kidneys will lose function, animals that spike that high have a high incidence of dying," explains Dr. Price.
Preventing heat stroke requires acting as soon as symptoms begin to appear. Dr. Price recommends getting ice over their heads, kidneys, and bellies, along with wetting their feet and helping to get them cooled off.
Connect With Windmill Animal Hospital:
2 Windmill Circle
(325) 698-8387
Monday - Saturday
Find them on Facebook!
"This is the time of the year the veterinary clinics have dog and dog, and cat and cat coming in," says Dr. Janice Price with the Windmill Animal Hospital, "and it can be prevented and folks really need to know how to spot it."
The first sign your little one is struggling with the heat, is excessive panting and animals that seem wobbly on their feet. Other symptoms of heat stress include vomiting, laziness, and a body temperature that rises above 107 degrees.
To reduce the risk of heat exhaustion for your outdoor animal, Dr. Price recommends three simple tips if temperatures are above 85 degrees:
1. Make sure there is a shady area your pet can escape to in order to stay out of the direct sunlight.
2. Keep some source of moving air around them at all times, like a portable fan air conditioner.
3. Pets must have access to a source of cool water, that stays out of sunlight.
"The reason they need those three things is dogs and cats can't sweat," explains Dr. Price. "All they can do to cool themselves off is pant."
If untreated, heat exhaustion can lead to serious complications in your pet, especially if their core temperature rises above 107 degrees.
"Their brain will lose function, their kidneys will lose function, animals that spike that high have a high incidence of dying," explains Dr. Price.
Preventing heat stroke requires acting as soon as symptoms begin to appear. Dr. Price recommends getting ice over their heads, kidneys, and bellies, along with wetting their feet and helping to get them cooled off.
Connect With Windmill Animal Hospital:
2 Windmill Circle
(325) 698-8387
Monday - Saturday
Find them on Facebook!
