By Erin Malcolm
In the United States, 54 animals suffered heat-related deaths last year and an additional 469 were rescued from the heat according to PETA.
“And those are just the ones that were reported. Most almost certainly aren’t,” the PETA report stated.
With summer in full swing, it is crucial to take precautions to ensure pets are cool, comfortable, and — most importantly — safe from heat-related issues this season.
Overheating is perhaps the most life-threatening issue a pet can face as a result of high temperatures.
Regional director of Tender Care Veterinary Center, Jessica Torres, said, “Pet owners don’t often realize that their pet may be overheating until they are nearing heat-stroke. During the hot days of summer, it can take as little as 10 minutes to begin to have physiological changes in your pet’s body.”
Leaving a pet in a vehicle on a warm day is the biggest “no-no” when it comes to heat-related pet safety, Torres said.
“We all know that the temperature inside of a car can reach deadly levels in a very short amount of time,” Torres said. “But it is always amazing to see how many owners think that leaving the windows down or parking in the shade will prevent this.”
As a general rule, she said it is never safe to leave a pet in a vehicle for any amount of time when the outdoor temperature is above 50 degrees.
The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region has an Animal Law Enforcement division. Cody Costra, public relations manager for HSPPR, warned that leaving an animal unattended in a hot vehicle is likely to result in a fine as it could constitute animal cruelty. Further, if the intention of the party being charged was to cause harm, jail time is also a possibility.
Costra said, “If you see a pet that’s been left unattended in a vehicle on a hot day, please call Animal Law Enforcement at 719-302-8798 or police dispatch to report it. If the animal is in severe distress, unconscious, etc., call 911.”
Unfortunately, ALE officers must prioritize the calls based on severity, since there are often more calls than there are available officers on hot days. “Factors we consider are shade versus direct sunlight, what type of surface the car is parked on (black top is going to give off a lot more heat than white gravel, for example), and overall condition of the animal (barking at the window is much better than a dog that is lethargic or wobbly),” Costra said.
In extreme emergencies, bystanders can opt to free the animal from the car on their own, as Colorado does have a hot car immunity law since HB 17-1179 was passed in 2017, but he emphasized that this should be done only with careful consideration.
“There are a lot of stipulations that need to be met to ensure immunity from civil and criminal liability if you break into a car to get a pet out. It is recommended to contact law enforcement,” Costra said.
Leaving a pet in a vehicle is certainly not the only cause of heat-exhaustion, though.
“Another no-no is taking a pet that is not used to exercising out in the heat for a long walk, hike or other strenuous activity,” Torres said. “Just like humans, our pets need time to condition for more strenuous activities, and attempting to do so during the hottest days of the year can be detrimental.”
Signs of overheating are panting, sudden change in the color of gum tissue and overall change in behavior or attitude. “Pets will often refuse to continue walking. They may appear suddenly restless and unable to get comfortable,” she said. “Or they may appear confused or disoriented. As their condition worsens, they will become increasingly lethargic and unable to rise. In severe cases, the pet will be unresponsive.”
If an animal is overheating, it is considered a life-threatening medical emergency that needs immediate treatment at an emergency veterinary facility. In the case that an overheating pet and owner are in a remote area, Torres recommended attempting to bring the pet’s body temperature down by applying cool water to the paw pads and the belly of the pet while they are traveling to the nearest vet.
For dogs specifically, it is important that owners be aware of how their dog’s breed plays a role in summertime safety, too. For example, Torres said that while many pets are not well-suited to summer temperatures and can be susceptible to overheating, brachycephalic or smushed face dogs like a bulldog or pug are especially susceptible.
Breeds even need to be considered for other concerns, such as sunburns. Short-haired dogs (and even cats) can get sunburned, especially if they also have light colored skin, Torres said. “Pet-safe sunscreens do work, but must be applied often; and, in most cases the pet will lick the product off, which could lead to stomach upset, including vomiting or diarrhea,” she said. “Human sunscreen products are not safe to apply to pets because they contain ingredients that are never safe for consumption.”
Another summertime safety measure pet parents can take is keeping pets off of sidewalks and pavement that are too hot.
“The rule to follow is if the walking surface is too hot for you to walk on or to hold a bare hand on for more than 30 seconds, it is too hot for your pet to walk on,” Torres said.
Pet owners might reach for commercially available booties found in pet stores and online in an attempt to protect their pets from burning their paws during walks, but she said this method is “often contraindicated because dogs are only able to sweat through their paw pads and around their nose, and booties will cause excessive sweating that can quickly lead to dehydration. In addition, booties that are ill-fitted are likely to cause blisters or sores on the feet.”
In general, many of the commercially available cooling products might not be worth trying at all, as Torres warned that they are often ineffective and might contribute to additional concerns, such as a foreign body ingestion.
If a pet must be outside in high temperatures, Torres said pet owners should offer the pet shade, shelter, plenty of clean water and maybe even a clean, shallow pool if used with supervision.
However, from heat exhaustion to burns, Torres said there is only one foolproof way to ensure pets remain safe from heat-related conditions:
Avoid it altogether and keep pets indoors during the heat of the day.
The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region has an Animal Law Enforcement division. Cody Costra, public relations manager for HSPPR, warned that leaving an animal unattended in a hot vehicle is likely to result in a fine as it could constitute animal cruelty. Further, if the intention of the party being charged was to cause harm, jail time is also a possibility.
