K-9 Corner

By Pat Moore and Kaye Lee

Warm Weather Care for Pets

 With winter over and hot weather soon approaching, now is a great time to check the status of care for your pets, particularly outdoor pets.  Dogs can go without food for a while, but the average dog (or cat) cannot go without water for longer than 24 hours.  Their need for fresh, clean, cool water is even greater with the warmer temperatures of summer.  All pets, inside and outdoor, need access to clean, fresh waters at all times. 

Also, water bowls left in the sun can become hot quickly, and drinking warm water when temperatures are high can actually add to animal’s body heat.  Water bowls are best left in a shaded, covered area.  Ice can also be added to bowls to help keep animals cool.

Shelter from the sun’s heat is also a need for backyard animals.  Animals with no access to shade cannot get rid of excess body heat, and can quickly suffer from heat stress and or heat stroke, which can be fatal.  To avoid head stress, provide some sort of shade, either from trees, patio covers, shade covers, or some other covering.

 When weather becomes hotter, check your animal’s condition often.  If you observe your pet panting excessively, or if he/she appears lethargic or confused, immediately provide a “cool down.”  Offer cool water to drink.  If the animal is lethargic, give them a teaspoon full of pancake syrup or corn syrup to counter the drop in blood sugar that accompanies heat stress, and call your veterinarian.  Remember that temperatures can reach dangerous levels in vehicles very quickly.  Just a few minutes in an enclosed vehicle (even with windows rolled down) can be fatal to all living creatures, so it’s best to leave Rover or Kitty at home when you are shopping or running errands during warm weather