How to help your pets beat dangerous summer heat

It’s summertime, which means dogs are dying from heat stroke and dehydration from being left outside without enough protection.
Just last week, a friend of mine who works at a vet clinic told me of a dog brought in by stretcher suffering from those ills. He died before the doctor could see him.
How can you keep your dog … or cat … from the same fate?
Nancy Peterson, issues specialist for the Humane Society of the United States, has advice.
“Prevention is the best medicine. People need to be aware that pets can suffer or die when they become overheated. People need to avoid putting pets in harm’s way,” warns Peterson.
Dogs and cats don’t have the same cooling system as people; they don’t perspire through their entire body surface.
“Imagine being in a parked car on a sunny day wearing a head-to-toe snowsuit” to get an idea of the difference, Peterson says.
If we leave our pets outside, ensure they can reach lots of fresh, cool water placed in a shady spot; supplement with ice cubes to keep it cooler, she advises. Chaining a dog is problematical any time, but especially in the heat when the dog may tangle the chain and get cut off from access to water or shade.
Animals with light-colored fur are more prone to skin cancer. Protect them with sunscreen made for animals. And if Fido digs up your yard, remember he’s doing that to escape the heat. Better a hole in the garden then a dead dog.
As always, do not leave your pets in the car when hot. “Even if you intend to run into the store for a minute, things happen,” Peterson notes. It doesn’t take long for a car to turn into an oven.
Be mindful of pools and outdoor grills. Cats and dogs, attracted by the smell of food, may jump on a grill and burn their paws. Or they may knock the grill over. Likewise, pets may tumble into a pool and drown if they don’t know how to exit. Make sure they know where the stairs are.
You need to know the signs of heat stroke and dehydration. Heat stroke symptoms include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, collapse, bloody diarrhea or vomiting. Also, the animal may act drunk, or suffer a seizure or coma. Gums may appear redder than usual. Get the animal out of the heat immediately, Peterson says. Don’t shock the pet by immersing it in cold water. Rather, wet it down with water-soaked towels, or spray with cool hose water. Take the animal to the vet.
Dehydration signs include skin that loses elasticity, gums that feel dry or sticky, and gums whose color won’t return after you gently press them. Get vet treatment.
Peterson’s advice for passersby who think they see a distressed animal: Don’t enter a strange dog’s territory. Check to see if the owner is home, or ask a neighbor about the owner’s whereabouts. Call the local animal control officer if necessary. Program animal control’s number into your cell phone. State law requires adequate water/shelter for dogs.
The Humane Society of the United States has flyers for windshields and posters for stores to warn owners about leaving dogs inside cars. To order, call (202) 452-1100 and ask for office services.
Take precautions so that your pet isn’t taken to a veterinarian on a stretcher.