Living in Michigan means that it is always a guessing game when it comes to the weather. With temperatures rising during the summer months, it is important for pet owners to keep their four-legged friends cool and safe. The basic rule of thumb is if you’re hot, then they’re hot!
Leaving your pet alone in a hot car can be life threatening within a matter of minutes. A car can overheat even when the window has been left cracked a few inches, and shady spots offer very little protection by moving with the sun. To put things into perspective, if the temperature outside is 70 °F to 80 °F, the temperature inside the vehicle can reach over 100 °F in a very short period of time.
Here are some tips to keep your pets safe from overheating this summer:
- Always have fresh cold water available for them.
- Make sure that if they are outside they have access to multiple shaded areas.
- Watch out for signs of overheating such as excessive panting, pale gums, lack of saliva, no energy, and no appetite.
- To prevent fly bites, use Vaseline on your pets’ ears, tail, and back.
- Be mindful of the hot cement so your pet doesn’t get paw burns.
- Don’t leave your pets alone in the car.
Luckily, pets with loving homes have access to cold water and shelter and can be monitored in the hot summer months, but sadly that’s not the case for homeless and neglected animals out alone in dangerously high temperatures. That is why your generous support helps facilitate our rescue teams to respond to these animals to provide water, medical assistance, and shelter until they find their forever homes.
Photo credit: one&All