To prevent your pet from overheating, take these simple precautions provided by ASPCA experts:
1. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, veterinary hospitals have been instructed to check-in all animals curbside. With the Vegas summer heat, we need to make sure that the pets stay safe. Please keep your pet in the front seat with the a/c on until you are called up. If your pet is in the at-risk group mentioned below or you do not have a/c, please let an employee know so that we can bring your pet indoors until it is their turn. If your pet is in a carrier, it is a good idea to place a frozen water bottle in the carrier with them to help them keep cool.
2. Pets can get dehydrated quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water when it’s hot or humid outdoors. Make sure your pets have a shady place to get out of the sun, be careful not to over-exercise them, and keep them indoors when it’s extremely hot.
3. Know the symptoms of overheating in pets, which include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor, or even collapse. Symptoms can also include seizures, bloody diarrhea, and vomit along with an elevated body temperature of over 104 degrees.
4. Animals with flat faces, like Pugs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heat stroke since they cannot pant as effectively. These pets, along with the elderly, the overweight, and those with heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.
5. When the temperature is very high, don’t let your dog linger on hot asphalt. Being so close to the ground, your pooch’s body can heat up quickly, and sensitive paw pads can burn. Keep walks during these times to a minimum.