Our Furry Friends vs The Heat

Summer is in full swing here at The Storage Inn, and the temperature is soaring! Our storage customers are zipping in and out, retrieving their Summer fun items from their various sized units – most clad in sunglasses, shorts and flip flops.This morning I spotted one of our tenants, Mary at her storage unit when I noticed what appeared to be a small bear hanging out of the back window of her SUV. Upon further inspection, I discovered that it was her dog, Luke! He’s a large Newfoundland  with thick dark fur. “Isn’t it hot for him to be out?” I asked. “ The AC’s on in my truck, plus we’re headed back home” Mary replied as she closed and locked the door to her storage space. This encounter made me think of all of the reports that we see this time of year about pets and heat, so I stopped at my veterinarian’s office on the way home to see what precautions I could take to keep my dog, Bo, safe during this heat wave. Here are some tips, courtesy of The ASPCA.

Don’t leave your pet alone in the car on a warm day
Despite the warnings, every year, pets die after their owners leave them in a parked car that overheats. A car can get extremely hot on a warm summer’s day. A parked car with the windows cracked can reach 120 degrees in as little as 30 minutes. Never, ever leave your dog, or any pet in a parked car on a hot day.

Be Vigilant About Vet Care
When it starts getting warm outside, take your dog or cat to the vet for a full check up. The check up should include a heartworm test and a flea and tick protection plan. These are year-round issues but in the summer months, with much more outdoors time, it’s especially important to monitor them.

Avoid Walking Your Dog In the Heat
Aim for mornings and evenings when letting your dog outside. Even in the coolest part of the day, watch for signs of trouble: Glassy eyes and frantic panting indicate a dog who needs help. Get to a veterinarian immediately if you see these symptoms!

Keep Your Home Cool for Your Pets
When the temperature outside gets hot, it can be harder to keep the indoors cool. Some people turn their air conditioning off when they leave for the day. If you have a pet at home, this could put him in danger.Instead of turning off the air conditioner, try leaving it on a conservative but comfortable setting (perhaps 76°F) while you are out. Make sure your pet has water and, consider closing curtains to reduce the heating effects of sunlight through the windows.

Give Your Pets Access to Shade and Plenty of Water
Pets can get dehydrated or get heat stroke quickly so any pet outside needs to have plenty of water and access to shade.

Know Which Dogs Are Less Tolerant of Heat
Some dog breeds are less tolerant of the heat than others. Older, obese or short-nosed dogs (Pugs, Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, Pekingese, Boxers, Shih Tzu’s and French Bulldogs) are less tolerant of heat. Also, older dogs, puppies and dogs with health issues can also be more susceptible to hot weather. Of course, you should keep a close eye on your dog in the heat, no matter what his breed, age or state of health.

Always remember that our pets rely on us to protect them and keep them comfortable and safe year round –  if you’re hot, your pets are definitely hot too. Have a fun, safe Summer!