Animal Shelter says pets need special care during hot weather
Posted on Saturday, July 29, 2006
With temperatures nearing triple-digits, the Fayetteville Animal Shelter wants pet owners to know what kind of special care animals need during the hot conditions.
"We all notice hot and cool weather, but animals have a harder time dealing with it because they can't sweat," said Fayetteville Animal Control Officer Tony Rankin. "They regulate their body temperature by hyperventilating."
While humans are advised to drink at least eight glasses of water a day, Rankin said pets left outside need a couple gallons each day to stay hydrated.
"If you're going to be gone for say, eight hours, and have a large-breed dog, such as a lab, I'd say you should leave a 5-gallon bucket of water out," he said. "You also want to make sure that it's in a tipproof container - I know you can buy them at Wal-Mart."
In addition to keeping pets hydrated at home, Rankin also urges pet owners to keep their animals hydrated away from home by brining along a bottle of water.
"There have been instances when animals have died of heat stroke," he said. "Most people remember to bring a bottle of water for themselves, but they forget about bringing water for their pets. A lot of the parks around here have water fountains, so people can re-fill their water bottles along the way."
Rankin said pet owners should walk their dogs in the morning hours, when temperatures are cooler.
"As it gets hotter outside, the pavement heats up and can cause serious injuries to the pads of pets' feet," he said. "The vet bill to treat that type of injury can be very costly."
Warning signs associated with a heat stroke, Rankin said, include excessive panting, lethargic behavior, convulsions and seizures.
"The key is to keep an eye on your pet - it's always a good sign if they're drooling," he said. "If their nose or tongue appears lighter than usual, they may be dehydrated. Cats and dogs are equally at risk - regardless of size."
Rankin said all pet owners should also provide adequate shelter for their pets during the day.
"It's actually required by city ordinance," he said. "They need to be able to get out of the direct sunlight and have a place to go in case a storm pops up during the afternoon. If you can't provide them with shelter, then they need to be kept inside."
Rankin also urges residents to leave their pets at home when running errands.
"We've issued several citations in the last week for leaving a pet unattended in a car," he said. "Some of the dogs we found in these vehicles were close to death. We had to pull them out and pour cool water all over them to get their body temperature down."
The inside of a car, Rankin said, can heat up to temperatures in excess of 120 degrees within 15 minutes.
"There are two kinds of animal cruelty - direct and negligence," he said. "In most of these cases, the pet owners were guilty of negligence. I'm sure they weren't intentionally trying to cause harm to their pet. They probably love their pet enough to take them on errands, but it's really best if they leave them at home when it's hot like this."
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