Summer Tips for your Pet

Summertime has a lot of fun in store, but overheating is something we want to kick out the door. Ranch Island Rescue shares with you 10 helpful tips to keep your furry companions safe and cool through the extreme heat conditions here in Las Vegas.

10.)  What to Look Out For.

Know the symptoms of overheating in your pets, which include difficulty in breathing or excessive panting, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor or even collapse. Symptoms can also include seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomit along with an elevated body temperature of over 104 degrees.

9.) Water is Key.

Pets can get dehydrated quickly, so make sure to give them plenty of fresh clean water when it’s hot or humid outdoors.

Other ways to utilize water to keep your pet nice and cool include soaking a towel in cold water and creating a cooling mat for laying, cooling, jackets, freezing a toy and adding ice cubes to your pet’s water bowl.

8.) Pesky Bugs.

Insect strike causes stress, aggravation, stomping and excessive movement, which in extreme heat, can be detrimental to an animal’s health and well-being. Bug spray, fans, proper waste management and reduction or outright elimination of standing water call go a long way in reducing insect burdens on your pet.

7.)  More at Risk.

Animals with flat faces, like Pugs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heat stroke since they cannot pant as effectively. These pets, along with senior pets and pets that are overweight, and those with heart or lung disease, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.

6.)  Don’t Buckle Up.

Never leave your animals alone in a parked vehicle. Not only can it lead to fatal heat stroke, it is illegal in several states! Deaths have been known to occur most in this situation.

5.) The Pool isn’t the Best Option.

Do not leave pets unsupervised around a pool. Not all animals are good swimmers. Introduce your pets to water gradually and make sure they wear flotation devices when on boats. Rinse your pet off after swimming to remove chlorine or salt from its fur, and try to keep your pet from drinking pool water which contains substances harmful to them.

4.) Not another lap.

Exercise early in the morning or late at night when the sun’s intensity is less. Avoid having your pet outside between the hours of 12pm and 3pm when the sun it at its hottest. How much exercise to do on a hot day is all dependent on your pets age and average activity level. If this is the first time in a long time that your pet is exercising, try something less strenuous, such as a short walk outside or even just throwing a toy around in a shaded area.

3.)  The Floor is Lava!!

When the temperature is very high, don’t let your pet linger on hot asphalt. Being so close to the ground, your pets body can heat up quickly, and sensitive paw pads can burn. Keep walks during these times to a minimum. A trick to use for this is to use a hose to spray down the floor for your pet. To test the asphalt, put the back of your hand on the ground for 7 seconds to verify that it is comfortable for your pet to walk on.

2.)  Give Your Animal a Boost.

No matter what animal species you have, providing animals daily access to a salt block is a necessity. The beauty of a salt block? Animals innately know when and how much to lick. This helps restore their electrolyte balance in the heat. Think of it as a four-legged version of a Gatorade.

1.)  No Need for a Haircut.

Feel free to trim longer hair on your dog, but never shave your dog: The layers of a dogs’ coats protect them from overheating and from getting a sunburn. Brushing  cats more often than usual can prevent problems caused by excessive heat. And be sure that any sunscreen product you use on your pets is labeled specifically for use on animals.

These tips are sure to help you as we go through the extreme heat here in Las Vegas. Thank you all for reading and we appreciate your continued support!