AESC Emergency and Specialty Center wants you to have a safe summer with your pet. Unfortunately, we see heatstroke and other heat-related emergencies more often than you'd think. Read on to learn some safety tips for your pet this summer.

Hot Cars: You've heard horror stories on the news and it's true— the interior of a parked car on a warm day can reach fatal temperatures in minutes. This is even the case when parked in the shade, with the windows cracked, or on a seemingly breezy 75° day. NEVER leave your pet in the car on a warm day, even just for a quick pit stop.

Other Heatstroke Culprits: It’s not just hot cars that can act like an oven on a hot day, many seemingly harmless spaces can reach high temperatures quickly without proper air flow, fresh water, or shade, including garages, attics, decks, rooftops, festivals and outdoor events, and even your backyard! Ensure that fresh water and shade is available to your pet at all times and realize that they need air conditioning and proper ventilation just as much as we do.

Paw Burns: Your pet’s paws are not immune to the heat of the ground and they aren’t able to slip on flip flops like we can. If you can’t hold the back of your hand to the ground for at least 10 seconds without feeling a painful burn, it's too hot for your pet to walk on. Pets can experience severe burns on their paws from walking on hot surfaces.

Brachycephalic breeds (Short snout): While humans primarily use sweat to cool their bodies, dogs and cats pant to help release heat. Brachycephalic dog and cat breeds—like pugs and Persians—have shorter airways than others, and are therefore more prone to airway obstruction. When they pant too heavily, their airways can become swollen and completely obstruct, resulting in an inability to breathe. Be sure to keep your short snouted pet cool at all times and bring him inside if you notice heavy panting.

ACTION STEPS IF YOU SUSPECT HEATSTROKE IN YOUR PET:

1. Remove your pet from the hot area.

2. Call your primary veterinarian or our 24/7, 365 emergency care services immediately

3. As you seek medical attention, lower your pet’s temperature by wetting him thoroughly with room temperature water, then increase air movement around him with a fan.

4. When the rectal temperature drops to 103.5°F, stop all cooling efforts.

CAUTION: Using very cold water or cold water-soaked blankets can actually be counterproductive. Cooling too quickly and especially allowing your pet’s body temperature to become too low can cause other life-threatening medical conditions.