Our pets can’t always be like Cujo and find a water bowl to keep us 
cool in the summer. Most dogs (and cats) aren’t as small as little Cujo. So, they’re more reliant on their owners in helping them to avoid heat stroke.
So, how to avoid heat stroke in pets? Here are a few easy pet tips:
- NEVER leave your pet inside a locked car that’s non-climate controlled. Even if you think that you’re going to run into the store to pick up 1 or 2 items, you usually end up being inside the store longer than you anticipate.
- Give your pet plenty of water. Like humans, a dog or cat’s body mass is made mostly of water (70-80%). Even if the pet loses only 10% of its body’s total fluids, serious illness can occur.
- Don’t exercise your pet during the hottest times of the day. Particularly in the summer, walking your pet first thing in the morning is usually the coolest time for exercise.
- Stay out of the sun. Let your dog be your guide. If a dog becomes over heated, it will stop walking. That’s your cue for a break. And make sure when you break, you break in the shade giving your dog the opportunity to cool down.
- Be mindful of geriatric or less-physically fit pets. Overweight pets and senior pets cannot take the heat like their younger and fitter counterparts. To safeguard even further, before engaging in outdoor activities during the hotter months, schedule an examination with your veterinarian to see your pet’s level of fitness.
Remember, heat stroke is serious. It can cause vomiting, diarrhea, collapse, seizures, organ failure, coma, and even death. Take Cujo’s lead and keep your pets cool during the hot summer months.
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