Taking care of your pet in the heat
With temperatures soaring into the triple digits again, it’s important to keep in mind the safety of your pet. If the air temperature is 100 degrees, pavement temperatures can climb above 120 and car temperatures can climb above 150 if parked in the sun for more than an hour.
With temperatures that hot, it is unsafe to walk your dog on concrete unless they have special dog shoes. Otherwise, try walking your dog in the morning or evening. You can also walk them on grass.
We measured the temperature inside cars at our ABC-7 studios when the air temperature was 101 degrees. Most cars were easily above 150 degrees inside, even the ones with windshield shades still registered 135 degrees.
If your dog stays outside during the day you want to make sure they have plenty of shade and a way to stay hydrated. It’s best to use a water bowl that is hard to tip over so your dog doesn’t lose water during the day.
“You can even get out small misters to put out for your dog. Especially the larger breed, the hairier breed dogs. Sometimes the misters will help keep them cool,” says Veterinarian Dr. Roger Freund of Coronado Animal Clinic.
The ASPCA says pets with flat faces are less efficient at panting, so they are more susceptible to heat stroke. If you have a pug or Persian cat, make sure they are in air conditioning as much as possible.
The ASPCA also says shaving your dogs coat is detrimental as it actually protects them from sun burns and overheating. However, trimming the long hairs can be beneficial.
