From Cats and Dogs to Urban Farm Animals, Heatstroke Can Be Fatal

Are you and your pets ready for the warm summer months? As we try to keep cool in the scorching heat, be sure to pay special attention to your animal friends. Understanding your pet’s limitations and taking extra precautions in warm weather may be the difference between a fun day in the sun and a trip to the emergency room.

Dogs and Cats

Tips for keeping dogs and cats safe in extreme heat:

• Never leave your pet in a car. On a mild to hot day, temperatures in a closed car (even with the windows cracked) can exceed 120 degrees in minutes, creating a dangerous condition for any animal. Cracking a window or parking in the shade does not help.
• Give your pet extra water. Staying hydrated is crucial on hot days to avoid illness. Whether your pet is indoors or outdoors, be sure to fill their water bowls several times a day.
• Protect your pet’s paws from hot surfaces. Walk your pet in the grass or the shade whenever possible.  As a general rule, if the pavement is too hot for your bare hands or feet, it’s too hot for your pet’s paws.
• Don’t overdo outdoor exercise. Often times, dogs don’t know when they need a break, so it’s important to stop frequently for shaded breaks and offer plenty of water.
• Take extra care with older dogs and dogs with shorter noses. Just like older humans, older dogs can be especially susceptible to higher temperatures. And certain breeds with shorter noses (like pugs and bulldogs) are at a greater risk of heatstroke.
• Apply pet-safe sunscreen to your dog. Sunburn can affect pets the same way it affects humans – pain, peeling and skin cancer. Use a pet-safe sunscreen on unprotected areas, like the tips of the ears, the skin around the lips, and the tip of the nose. A good rule of thumb for sunscreen: If it’s safe for babies, it’s safe for your pets.
• Don’t leave windows open while you’re pets are unattended. High-rise syndrome – when pets fall from a two-story building or higher – can be fatal. Don’t rely on window screens to keep your pet from falling.
• When in doubt, stay indoors. Avoid being outside for long periods of time during the hottest time of the day, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Animals can get sick quickly on hot days, even if they are in the shade.

Know the signs of heatstroke in dogs and cats:

Heatstroke can be fatal if not treated quickly. Signs of heatstroke include:

• Panting
• Vomiting
• Warm and dry skin
• Rapid heartbeat
• Staring or anxious expressions
• Collapsing
• Refusal to obey commands

Owners who suspect their pet may be experiencing heatstroke should call their regular veterinarian or DoveLewis immediately at 503-228-7281. In the meantime, they can help lower their pet’s body temperature by applying towels soaked in cool water to the hairless areas of the pet’s body (the tips and back of the ears, foot pads, belly, and inner thighs). Use a fan to help cool the animal while they are wet. Even if the pets seems to cool down, it’s still imperative to visit a veterinarian immediately, as temperatures often spike again or cool below a safe, normal temperature.

Please note: Avoid completely immersing a pet in water, since heat cannot leave the body as effectively in this situation, and extreme changes in body temperature are dangerous to the pet’s health.

Law allows good Samaritans to break car windows to rescue animals and children

On June 22, 2017 a new law went into effect (HB 2732) that allows people to break into a car to save an unattended animal or child who appears to be in imminent danger. In 95-degree weather, the inside of a car can reach 114 degrees in less than 10 minutes and 129 degrees in 30 minutes.  An animal or child in this situation could suffer heatstroke, which can be fatal, in just a few minutes. Cracking windows and parking in the shade does not help. Good Samaritans who choose to rescue an animal or child must call law enforcement prior to breaking in and must stay near the car with the animal or child until police arrive at the scene.

 

Urban Farm Animals

While urban farm animals – like chickens, goats and rabbits – are more accustomed to the changing outdoor temperatures, they still need some assistance to remain safe and cool during extreme summer temperatures. Here are several tips for keeping your outdoor pets safe in the heat, as well as potential signs of heatstroke.

CHICKENS

• Make sure they have plenty of access to clean, cool water.
• Let them eat juicy fruits and vegetables, like watermelon and cucumber. This will also help them stay hydrated.
• Make sure they have access to shade. If necessary, string up fabric, a blanket or a tarp in your backyard to provide them with shade.
• Provide an area with dry, loose dirt where the hens can take dust baths. They’ll wallow down until they reach cool soil.
• Make sure your coop is well-ventilated. Windows and open spaces help with air flow.
• Mist your chickens with cool water, or provide a gentle sprinkler system or misting system in their yard or pen area. Do not dump large amounts of water on them or submerge them in water.


• Signs of heatstroke in a chicken:
  • Panting with wide open mouths continuously
  • Pale comb or waddle
  • Spreading wings away from the body
  • Refusing to eat or drink
  • Diarrhea
  • Lethargy
  • Seizures or convulsions

RABBITS

• If possible, keep rabbits inside on hot days. Keep a close eye on rabbits, especially older ones. They are very susceptible to heat stroke.
• Make sure they have plenty of access to clean, cool water.
• Make sure they have access to shade. If necessary, string up fabric, a blanket or a tarp in your backyard to provide them with shade.
• Dampen the rabbit’s ears and body with cool water. Do not submerge the rabbit in water.
• Make sure their outdoor hutch is well-ventilated.
• Avoid handling your bunny as much as possible in extreme heat. This could lead to added stress.
• Place a refrigerated ceramic tile or piece of marble in their hutch. These stay cool for a while, and rabbits like to lie on them.
• Keep a close eye on rabbits, especially older ones, in hot weather. They are very susceptible to heat stroke.


• Signs of heatstroke in a rabbit:
  • Reddening of the ears
  • Panting
  • Lethargy
  • Salivating
  • Weakness/slow movement/reluctance to move
  • Seizures or convulsing
  • Poor response to stimulus

GOATS AND SHEEP

Goats and sheep are more tolerant to heat than other livestock, but they still require special attention on hot days.

• Make sure they have plenty of access to clean, cool water. They will drink more on a hot day, so check their water supply often and refill if needed.
• Make sure they have access to shade. If necessary, string up fabric, a blanket or a tarp in your backyard to provide them with shade.
• If your goat is interested, mist or spray them with cool water. Start misting their legs first, rather than drenching their entire body at once.(Some goats don’t like water. Do not force them, because it can cause more stress.)


• Signs of heatstroke in a goat or sheep:
  • Continual panting
  • Rapid breathing
  • Weakness and inability to stand

Heatstroke can be fatal if not treated quickly. If your pet shows signs of heatstroke, visit your veterinarian immediately or call DoveLewis Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Hospital at 503-228-7281.