MIAMI.- Due to the high temperatures throughout the country, your pets They can suffer from heatstroke and dehydration. Providing protection to our pets during the heat is essential. Pets, like people, are susceptible to the effects of extreme heat.
Best Friends Animal Society recommends taking some simple precautions to keep dogs and cats healthy and comfortable as the heat increases in your area.
Best Friends recommends taking some simple precautions to keep dogs and cats healthy and comfortable as the heat increases in your area.
Tips for caring for pets in the heat
- Keep pets inside during the day. It may sound obvious, but it’s warmer outside when the sun is out. Brisk walks and bathroom breaks are fine, but try to keep your pets in the shade.
- If pets spend time outdoors during the day, make sure they have access to shade at all hours of the day. Leashed dogs are especially vulnerable because they could become tangled in the leash, out of reach of shade or water.
- Don’t put your pet in the back of a truck. It is very dangerous to drive with a dog in the back of a truck. Not only can flying debris cause serious injuries, but the dog can be unintentionally thrown into traffic if the driver brakes suddenly, swerves, or is hit by another car.
- Exercise dogs during the cooler hours of the morning or afternoon, not in the intense heat of the afternoon. Dogs that are older, overweight, have thick fur, or have sunken noses (such as Boxers, Pugs, and Pekingese) are even more at risk of overheating. Bring water for you and your pet, or a collapsible container if there is a water source on your route.
- Be aware of the temperature of the sidewalk, asphalt, sand, or even compacted dirt, as the heat can cause burns on your pet’s paw pads if they get too hot.
- Never leave your pet in a parked car when the outside temperature is above 70 degrees. Not even with the windows half down, not in the shade, not even for a quick errand. Dogs and cats can’t sweat like humans, so they pant to lower their body temperature. If they are inside a car, recycling very hot air, panting provides no relief and heat stroke can occur quickly.
A little empathy goes a long way toward protecting our pets from extreme weather. If it’s too hot in the car, in the garden or on a walk, it’s even hotter for our furry friends.
Information about Best Friends Animal Society
Best Friends Animal Society is a leading animal welfare organization working to end the practice of euthanizing dogs and cats in shelters across the United States by 2025. Founded in 1984, Best Friends pioneered the no-kill movement and has helped reduce the number of animals euthanized in shelters from approximately 17 million per year to 400,000. Best Friends runs life-saving programs across the country and has the largest sanctuary in the country. Working closely with a network of around 4,700 partners dedicated to promoting animal welfare, Best Friends is working to save all pets, Save Them All®. For more information, visit SalvaUnaMascota.org.
Social networks
Facebook: @bestfriendsanimalsocietyenespanol
Instagram: bestfriends_enespanol
Source: Best Friends Animal Society
