Furrever Friends Rescue and Volunteers, Inc.

With temperatures in our area reaching record highs, we need to be mindful of the need to keep our pets comfortable in the hot weather… even if they’re indoors.

Make sure your pets have plenty of water, and be on the lookout for signs of overheating such as excessive panting or staggering. If you notice a marked change in your pet’s behavior, contact your veterinarian at once.

Also, never leave a pet alone in a parked car! Even on relatively cool days, temperatures inside a closed vehicle can reach as high as 160 degrees F… and an animal can die from heatstroke in as little as 15 minutes. Leaving animals unattended in closed vehicles is also illegal in many areas. If you see an animal in a parked car and believe it is in danger, call 911.

For more information on keeping pets cool in the hot weather, visit this page from the ASPCA, and MyDogIsCool.com, which includes printable flyers and other educational materials.  The Weather Channel also features a “PetCast” tool customizable by pet type, characteristics and location.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 6th, 2010 at 4:16 pm and is filed under Public Service Message. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.