Tips to keep pets safe during extreme temperatures

(WPHL) — As the Delaware Valley is experiencing extreme heat and high temperatures, many are taking measures to stay cool and out of the sun. But what about our furry friends? It is important to take measures to protect them as well.

The American Humane Society has shared the following tips to keep pets safe:

• Adjust exercise time: Try to take your dogs on their walks in the mornings or evenings when it is cooler outside. Limit their time outside during high temperatures and ensure they have continuous access to cool, clean water.

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• Check the pavement: Check the pavement with the back of your hand. If it is too hot, get your pet shoes to protect their paws or carry them to a patch of grass.

• Know if your pet is high-risk: Some breeds, such as pugs, bulldogs, and other breeds with short noses, as well as elderly and overweight dogs, are at high risk for overheating. Talk to your veterinarian to see if your pet qualifies.

• Check for signs of dehydration: Monitor if your dog is panting excessively and breathing heavily, as those are the key indicators of dehydration. Also, if you gently pinch your dog’s skin near its shoulder and the skin goes back into place, your dog is hydrated. If the skin stays pinched or returns slowly, your dog may be dehydrated and should be offered water immediately and taken to a veterinarian if they do not improve.

• Be aware of signs of heat stroke: Signs of heat stroke in dogs include excessive panting, lethargy, stumbling, dark or bright red tongue or gums, bloody diarrhea or vomiting, and seizures. If your pet shows these signs, take them to the vet immediately.

• Do not leave your dog in a car: Leaving a pet in a car for even a brief period can have a deadly outcome. If you see a distressed dog inside a parked car on a warm day, immediately call your local animal control or law enforcement for help and stay with the animal until help arrives.

• Keep your dog cool on hot days to avoid overheating: Apply cool water to your pet’s skin with a bath hose or sponge. Allow your pet to drink cool water in small doses; if your pet drinks a lot of water in a short amount of time, it could get sick.

“Unlike humans, dogs do not sweat to regulate their temperatures as efficiently as we do. That makes dogs especially vulnerable to heat stroke and other dangerous symptoms, which can be fatal. In the summer, we often see extreme heat and natural disasters cause widespread power outages across the country. Make a plan for keeping yourself and your pets safe and comfortable during an unexpected outage,” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, President and CEO of the American Humane Society.