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Extreme heat can become dangerous for dogs and cats much faster than many pet owners realize. Pets cannot regulate their body temperature as efficiently as people, making access to water, shade and a cool indoor environment essential during hot North Texas weather.
Heat-related illness can develop outdoors, inside a vehicle or even inside a home during an air-conditioning failure or power outage. Pet owners should prepare before temperatures rise and watch closely for changes in an animal’s breathing, movement or behavior.
Keep Fresh Water Available
Pets should always have access to fresh, clean water. Bowls placed outdoors can become warm or empty quickly, so they should be checked and refilled throughout the day.
Outdoor time should be limited during extreme heat. Animals that must spend brief periods outside need an open, well-ventilated shaded area. An enclosed doghouse may trap heat rather than provide relief. During the hottest conditions, bringing pets into an air-conditioned building is the safest option.
Schedule Walks During Cooler Hours
Dog walks and outdoor exercise should take place during the early morning or later evening whenever possible. Owners should reduce the length and intensity of activity based on the temperature, humidity and their pet’s health.
Hot pavement presents another serious hazard. Asphalt and concrete can burn paw pads and contribute to overheating because dogs are close to the heated surface. Choose grass or shaded routes and avoid letting dogs remain on hot pavement.
Never Leave a Pet Inside a Parked Vehicle
A pet should never be left unattended in a parked vehicle, even for a few minutes or with the windows partially open. Temperatures inside a vehicle can rise rapidly and reach life-threatening levels before an owner returns.
Leaving the engine and air conditioner running is also not a dependable safeguard. The system could stop operating, and the animal could remain trapped without help. Pets should be left safely at home when they cannot accompany their owners inside a destination.
Recognize the Warning Signs
Possible signs of heatstroke include:
- Heavy or excessive panting
- Difficulty breathing
- Excessive drooling
- Rapid heartbeat
- Very red gums or tongue
- Weakness, confusion or poor coordination
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Collapse, seizures or unconsciousness
Heatstroke is a veterinary emergency. Flat-faced dogs and cats, senior pets, young animals, overweight pets and animals with heart or respiratory conditions face an increased risk of serious complications.
Act Quickly When a Pet Overheats
Move an overheated pet away from direct sunlight and into a shaded or air-conditioned location. Begin cooling the animal with cool—not ice-cold—water and cool, wet towels. Ice-water immersion should be avoided because overly aggressive cooling can create additional problems.
Contact a veterinarian immediately and begin traveling to an emergency veterinary hospital. Even when a pet appears to recover after cooling, internal organ damage and other complications may not become visible until hours or days later.
Prepare for Power Outages
Families should decide in advance where they can take their pets if a summer storm interrupts electricity or air conditioning. Keep carriers, leashes, medications, veterinary records and water supplies where they can be reached quickly.
Fans may provide airflow, but they should not be treated as a substitute for air conditioning during dangerous heat because they do not cool pets as effectively as they cool people. A backup plan involving a relative’s home, pet-friendly hotel, boarding facility or cooling location can prevent a power outage from becoming a medical emergency.
Preventing heat-related illness begins with simple decisions: provide water, reduce outdoor activity, avoid hot pavement, never leave pets in vehicles and respond immediately to signs of distress. During extreme heat, those precautions can save an animal’s life.
