Dog days of summer a danger for pets

Heat, dehydration could spell trouble for animals

Even during the most sweltering, warmest days of summer, most of our pets don't sweat it much. They can't.

That does not mean they are not affected by the heat. They are, but they do not refresh themselves by sweating, like humans do. Instead they stick their tongue out and do the ol' panting thing.

Even when they do something so noisily noticeable as panting, sometimes their human masters forget to protect them from the heat, with dire consequences for the animals.

"People forget animals depend on the owner to provide fresh, clean, drinking water," said Larry Ledeboer, animal control officer for the Grant County Sheriff's Office. This is as true for small domestic pets such as cats and dogs as it is for horses.

While cats are more adaptable, Ledeboer said, horses need up to 20 gallons of clean water every day. Dogs need up to two gallons, depending on their size.

With their busy summer schedules, owners put their pets not only on the back of their minds, but their cars, too, which could mean a lot of trouble in a short span of time.

Santiago Reyna, animal control officer for the Moses Lake Police Department, said that on a warm day, temperatures inside cars can reach up to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, turning a short trip to the grocery store with Rex as copilot to a longer stay at the vet's clinic, if not worse.

"When it's hot, leave your pet at home," Reyna said. Leaving the window a bit open does not make much difference at all, he added.

When at home, make sure your pet has plenty of clean drinking water. Do not fall into the trap, Reyna said, of vowing to check its water when you get home.

"Sometimes active animals can knock their water over," Reyna said, leaving them without liquids for the rest of the day, and prone to heat stress.

Pets with heat stress present a series of symptoms, among them dizziness, excessive pulse and panting, vomiting, glazed eyes and walking about disoriented.

In the past couple of weeks, there has been a spike of calls to the MLPD or the GCSO regarding animal cruelty, both Ledeboer and Reyna said. While there are no fines, owners can face charges of animal cruelty in the second degree, a misdemeanor.

If your dog is affected by heat stress, the Humane Society of Moses Lake recommends applying ice packs or cold towels to the head, neck and chest of the animal. Giving the pet an unlimited amount of water is not recommended. Instead, let it lick ice cubes or ice cream. Finally, get your dog to a veterinarian as soon as possible.