August 19, 2008
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| News: Heat Can Kill! |
If your pet is outside on hot days, remember to provide protection from the sun and free access to plenty of cool drinking water. Every summer, thousands of animals die needlessly after they are left inside cars. Even if you leave the car windows slightly open, the rapid buildup of heat inside can reach over 100 degrees in just a few minutes. That's hot enough to cause a dog to suffer heat stroke. Keep in mind, dogs pant to regulate body temperature, as they have fewer sweat glands than humans, and most of their sweat glands are located along the base of their feet. By panting, a dog can cool the mouth and tongue, along with blood which is circulated through the head, keeping body temperature at a safe and normal level (unless the air is real hot, like it would be in a vehicle. Although dogs pant to control escalating temperature, they cannot protect themselves against extreme heat by panting, and pet owners should carefully monitor their animals during hot weather. And by all means, leave them home in a safe and cool place no matter how much those eyes beg you to take them for a car ride. When dogs pant heavily during hot weather, it may be a sign of distress. Signs of heatstroke are excessive panting and salivation, vomiting, and a fast pulse rate and high body temperature. If you notice these symptoms in your pet, act quickly, immerse the animal in cool water, pour cool water over the animal or put ice packs on the animal's head, then get to the veterinarian as soon as possible. Click here to return to the news article list. |
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