It has been a long, difficult, and strange year. Due to COVID-19, many of us had to significantly shift what we do on a daily basis. Thankfully, we’ve had our little furry friends at our side. Although summer is a great time to go outside and spend some quality time with your animal, you need to be careful and make sure your pet doesn’t overheat. Our veterinary team at Central Texas Animal Hospital, serving Pflugerville and the North Austin Area has seen our fair share of pets overheating during the summer, and we want you to know how to prevent that from happening to your beloved animal. Take a look at the following information about what you can do for your furry pet from overheating.
Make Sure Your Pet is Hydrated at All Times
Make sure your furry friend has plenty of water to drink. Change the water often so that your animal can have fresh, cool water every time it wants to have a drink. If you are outside with your pet, stop in an area where there is shade and encourage it to drink water.
Change Your Walking Routine
Pets are unable to sweat like humans, so the hot summer sun can be unbearable for them. If you have to walk your dog out, make sure to go during the early morning hours or the late evening hours.
Keep Your Pet Indoors
The temperatures during the summertime can rise above comfortable levels. The best thing you can do for your pet is to keep it indoors as much as possible. You can help keep your animal cool by having well-ventilated areas in the home for it to go to, having accessible water, and maybe a fan to provide a cooling breeze.
Never Leave Your Pet in a Car
Our veterinary team cannot stress enough how important it is to not leave pets in a car when it is hot outside. The indoor temperature of a car can excessively rise higher than the outdoor temperature, which leaves your pet in danger of overheating. Cracking a window or having the AC on in the car is not enough to cool your pet, and it is not worth putting your animal’s life in danger. If you have to go out, it is best to leave your furry companion at home.
Contact Us Immediately if Your Pet is Overheating
At Central Texas Animal Hospital, we understand that no matter how hard we try to prevent our pets from overheating, it can still happen. If your pet has rapid panting, diarrhea, weakness, vomiting, thick saliva, or a bright red tongue, bring it to our animal hospital right away for medical attention.
Whether it is time for your furry companion to have a wellness exam or it needs treatment for a health condition, our veterinary team, serving Pflugerville and the North Austin Area, is here to help. Contact us to schedule an appointment for any one of our services or for more information about keeping your pet safe during the summertime. Our number is 512-251-BARK (2275).
