It's a heat wave!
Summer has arrived with a vengeance! Here in the Okanagan, we've been seeing temperatures over 40℃ for several days now. {Ahem, weeks now, as it has been so hot it’s hard to focus on writing this! LOL, I want to be in the pool, or snuggled with Radar in the basement!} It’s hot! Almost too hot. No one wants to move, play, or do much of anything - that includes the animals. Even the plants are shutting down or suffering heat damage!
Just as we enjoy the heat, we can also suffer from it, and the same goes for our pets. Our thicker coated friends may find it a bit excessive in the heat. Our short coated friends can suffer sunburn! Short-nosed, pug-nosed breeds, properly known as brachycephalic breeds, can have more difficulty cooling off and breathing. Many health issues for all toes and tails can be aggravated by the excessive heat if we aren’t cautious. So I have some tips to remind us all to stay summer savvy. Let’s avoid the sunburns, toasty paws, and emergency trips to the vet or walk-in clinic so we can enjoy summer to the fullest!
Summer Savvy Tip #1:
Stay Hydrated!
We all need to drink more water, and when it’s this hot we need to drink even more! Swallowing all the water in the pool doesn’t count - I do have to remind the twins of that occasionally!
Need some ways to up the water intake? Try:
Grabbing extra water bottles before you leave the house.
Having water in a jug in the fridge.
Keeping ice cubes stocked to suck on and chew one (this is for both toes and tails in the house!)
Keeping one water bowl filled with ice and then put a smaller one inside with water to keep it colder.
Adding fresh or frozen fruit to your water bottle, like lemons, limes, and even cucumber. Add a hint of flavour and nutrition all at once!
You can add frozen apple slices and watermelon to your pets bowl! Keep a second bowl of plain water nearby in case they don’t like the fruity additions.
Make sure to wash and refill bowls and bottles frequently throughout the day. Clean and fresh water tastes so much better! I know I'm grateful for it!
Summer Savvy Tip #2
Seek Shade (and/or Air Conditioning)
It doesn't take long for the temperature to rise, so plan your day accordingly! Avoid doing activities in the heat of the day. Schedule your walks and playdates for the kids, the pets, and even yourself in the cooler parts of the day. I know, it limits the hours you have available in the day, but everyone will get more out of that time!
Do what you can to keep your house cooler:
Get those fans blowing so they’ll move the air around the house!
Close up your windows and doors before the outside temperature is above the inside temperature!
Pull the blinds down or hang blankets in the window to block the sun.
Make some sun shades of cardboard and tinfoil to put into your window, or tape the tinfoil directly onto your window if you need to. I am amazed at how much cooler the house stays with that trick!
Can you tell we don’t have A/C in our house? You can do these same things if you do have A/C! Your A/C won't have to work as hard, meaning you save on your power bill, which means you can buy more pet toys! Right?
Don’t do too strenuous of activities during the heat of the day. It increases everyone’s risk of over heating. Taking a siesta (nap) in a nice cool location is a great idea. I know snuggling close with our furry family, or any family members, may not be a high priority, as sweaty skin and sticky fur are not a good mix. Instead, relax on a blanket, spread out a bit and enjoy each other's company with a bit of distance. We’ve discovered that the twins, Radar, and myself can space out quite nicely on the queen bed in the basement, and with the fan blowing across us, we can keep nice and cool! The sprawl doesn't leave much room for my husband though...
Summer Savvy Tip #3
Chill in the Pool
It doesn’t take much cold water to help your family and your pets cool off. Adding a little kiddy pool of cold water to your shady oasis will increase your “cool” relaxation. It’s also a lot of fun! To amp up the cooling fun, put in some ice cubes or larger blocks of ice to play with! Soaking your pet’s stuffed toys and freezing them for a little bit will help cool them and also provide entertainment.
Things to consider when you’re selecting your pool:
Make sure to choose an appropriate size. Big enough for your pet and kiddos to play, but not so big they are unable to hop out!
Ensure you pick a durable material that can withstand your family’s play style. Caution if buying an inflatable pool: your pet’s nails may pop it!
A drain at the bottom makes emptying and refilling so much easier!
Change the water frequently, as mosquitos breed in standing water like kiddy pools, buckets, etc.. Dump all your pools and buckets regularly to prevent extra breeding areas.
Summer Savvy Tip #4
Avoid Pavement and Cement!
There is a reason snakes and reptiles like to sun on rocks and stones, even sidewalks and roads…these surfaces absorb heat from the sun! In fact, the sidewalks and roads that we like to wander for our daily walks can get too hot and burn bare feet and paws! We go out with shoes on our feet, but we sometimes forget that our pets don’t have that layer to insulate their adorable toe beans!
If you missed my Instagram stories during our heat wave, go check out the highlight Summer Savvy, where I measured the cement and pavement around our place when we reached almost 50℃ the one day. The cement in the shade was 32℃, and 42℃ in the sun. The asphalt was 52℃, and the synthetic deck boards on our front deck were 75℃! Bare feet and paws can blister and burn within minutes at that temperature!
So when you’re going to walk on pavement or cement, do the Touch Test! Can you put your hand flat on the surface comfortably for seven (7) seconds? If you don’t want to bend down, put your bare feet down instead!
You’ll be surprised how uncomfortable it is. If it’s too hot for your hands or feet, it’s too hot for your pet’s pads to be walking across. Stick to grassy areas, or go for walks early in the morning or later in the evening. It is a better option than having to walk into the vet clinic with your pet’s burnt paw pads to be treated!
Summer Savvy Tip #5
No one gets left in the hot car!
How long can you comfortably sit in the car, with no A/C?
I’m sweltering in moments, wanting the windows down and the car moving, so that there’s airflow until
the A/C kicks in. I know I’m not the only one that feels that way. So if we don’t like it, how come this still needs to be repeated:
DON”T LEAVE YOUR PETS IN THE CAR!
In the last few weeks there have been several cases of dogs being left in the car, and even one of a dog strapped to the back of an RV in a crate while travelling. Just here in the Okanagan. No one likes to hop into a hot car, so why is it okay to leave our pets in there? This is cruel! I’m sure if you’re reading this, you probably feel the same way I do. I’m preaching to the choir, I know, but please share the info with someone who may need a reminder!
Our vehicles heat up incredibly fast. Even a warm spring day can raise the temperature inside uncomfortably high for our furry friends. Panting and sweating through their paws doesn’t allow them to cool off fast enough. Windows cracked open don’t provide enough airflow to cool the air - especially on these over 40℃ days we’re having. It just allows already hot air to circulate in an already hot car, and doesn’t actually provide any relief.
If you can’t take your pet into the stores or place you are visiting, leave them at home, where they’re safe and comfortable. If that isn’t an option, support a local dog walker or doggy daycare! They would love the business and the chance to get to know your pet! It will give you peace of mind that your pet is getting some extra socialization and care, while keeping them safe.
Also, keep your pets in the vehicle cab with you when you are travelling. Crates in the back of a truck, or under a box cap without proper ventilation heat up excessively as well, and your pet can’t escape to get cool. Also, if they have any anxiety about loud noises, the traffic noise from other vehicles passing yours is going to aggravate that. The fumes from exhaust aren't nice to breathe in either. If there isn’t enough room for everyone to travel safely in one vehicle, you will need to make other plans. Call up a friend to housesit or pet sit, arrange a pet sleepover, or book with a local boarding kennel.
So what can you do if you see a pet in distress in a car?
Look for the owners nearby, go into the closest store and have them paged.
Take a good look at the vehicle set up, as some pet owners, especially dog breeders, competitors, trainers, search dog handlers etc. have their vehicles specifically rigged up to safely allow their pets to stay safe in the vehicle.
Call your local animal control and/or the police/RCMP.
Stay nearby, monitor the pet, and the situation.
You can take a picture of the vehicle and the pet while you wait.
Stop and think before breaking the window! Here in Canada you can be charged for breaking into the vehicle, and you will probably have to pay for the window repair. I know there are some images on social media saying to break the glass after you have taken the pictures and you will be safe from charges, but that is not necessarily true for every area. It’s a grey area, and honestly, I feel torn about it, as none of us want to see any animal suffering. Doing everything you can to get the pet out of the situation, and keeping them as comfortable as possible while respecting their owner would guide my response.
Summer Savvy Tip #6
Monitor for Signs of Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke
Even when we do all we can to stay safe and cool in the heat, heat exhaustion and heat stroke can still occur! We can get carried away playing in the pool or the shade, not realizing we haven’t been drinking our water like we need to! Do you know the difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke? The symptoms are similar for both humans and our pets, and they can become a life threatening emergency.
Heat Exhaustion begins first. For us, we notice a headache, possibly feeling faint or dizzy. Nausea sets in, and our skin gets cold and clammy as we sweat profusely. Our body is going into overdrive to cool us off. Muscle spasms can occur as well. Our pets may not want to eat due to the nausea, pant excessively (they only sweat through their toes remember), and they can be uncoordinated as they feel dizzy or suffer muscle spasms.
Move yourself and your pet to a cool location. Apply cold compresses: wet a towel down with water, and lay it on your back or along your pets back, or gently spray them down with cool water if your pet will let you. Drink water - you need to get you or your pet rehydrated. Monitor for any progressing symptoms and take it easy for a bit! Listen to your body: it needs to rest and rehydrate or you will progress to heat stroke!
Heat stroke is a medical emergency. Call the ambulance or your veterinarian if you’re noticing red, hot skin and gums. No sweating - the body is too dehydrated at this point! Your family member or pet may have a vacant stare or be unconscious, have severe headaches or seizures can begin. Don’t waste time, they need help! Keep them as cool as possible while you bring them for emergency treatment.
We all long for the warm, sunny days of summer and the activities it brings! Be summer savvy and savour the summer sunshine safely! Have a blast with all the toes and tails in your family!