Owners can help hot dogs relish summertime

Posted: Sunday, August 15, 1999



Dr. Carol Hillhouse, a veterinarian at the Carson County Veterinary Clinic in Panhandle, stresses that pets should not be left in parked vehicles.

"They just get really hot in a parked car, and there's no ventilation," she said. "Even in just a few minutes, it gets really hot."

The temperature inside a car can reach up to 130 degrees in 30 minutes, Dr. Dan Carey, a veterinarian with the Iams Co., said in a press release.

Owners of pets left in cars could face legal problems as well, said Janice Fielding, executive director of the Amarillo-Panhandle Humane Society Inc.

"There is a cruelty law in Texas to protect animals," she said. "It says you have to provide adequate care. (Leaving a dog in a car when it's hot) constitutes inadequate care for the animal. It would be up to a judge to decide, but there is a fine or a jail sentence, or both."

Both Hillhouse and Fielding agree the best thing to do is not leave an animal in a car, even for a short period of time.

The solution for hot pets is simple, Hillhouse said.

"They need fresh water all the time and plenty of it," she said. "Most dogs can handle the heat if they've got plenty of water and a way to get out of the sun."

A dog will exhibit certain signs when it's too hot, Hillhouse said.

"What you'll see first is profuse panting and salivation," she said. "They'll have an anxious expression. They also seem disoriented and don't respond well to commands. Their skin may even feel real hot."

Dogs can develop a high fever as well, or have a heat stroke, Hillhouse said.

The easiest way to cool a dog down quickly is to spray it with cool water, she said.

"If it doesn't respond to that, it needs to go to a vet," Hillhouse said. "(Dogs) can't sweat like people, so they can't get rid of their heat real well."

A lack of ventilation adds to the heat problem, she said. Pets also need shade when they're outdoors. She suggests that owners not exercise their dogs in the middle of the day when the heat is intense.

Fielding said that owners can supply their dogs with small wading pools if they stay outdoors during the day.

"Also, if your dog has a lot of fur, you might want to consider a haircut," Fielding said.

Some breeds of dogs are at risk more than others for heat related problems, Hillhouse said.

"Really old and really young pets don't handle the heat well," she said. "Overweight animals and those that have some kind of heart or respiratory problem (are at risk)."

She said short-nose breeds of dogs like pugs and bulldogs can't handle high heat as well as other breeds can.

Summertime causes additional problems for pets, according to Hillhouse.

"Fleas and ticks are bad this year, they're bad every summer," she said. "And so are heartworms. We're seeing an increase of heartworms because they're carried by mosquitoes and we've had enough moisture (to allow mosquitoes to breed)."

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