Protecting Your Pets

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Becky Brooks works at the Parkway Animal Hospital and says this heat can be even deadlier for animals than humans.

"Last year we had a lady who had a litter of kittens and she actually had them in the trunk of her car while she went into a doctor's office and by the time that she got here, they were all brain dead and all had to be euthanized."

But it didn't have to be that way. Cats and dogs don't have sweat glands other than their paws or nose, so they don't deal with the heat as well as humans do. There are simple things owners can do to help them out.

"Make sure they have plenty of shade, plenty of water at all times; never leave them in a unattended vehicle at any time.”

It only takes 30 minutes before extreme heat becomes fatal for an animal.

"They do not have a whole lot of time and they can't tell you that they're overheated or hot, so you just have to watch them very carefully."

If they are lethargic, pass out, or begin to pant heavily, even cats, experts say you should take them to the your local vet immediately.

Every minute counts when it come to keeping them alive. Vets at the Parkway Animal Hospital say in the past two months they have seen a dozen animals suffering from heat exhaustion and at least three have died because of it.