Temperatures in Charlotte are hitting record levels this week, and while you may be able to put on cooler clothes, your k-9 friends can’t.
Dog’s aren’t about to sweat – their only way of cooling down is to pant with their tongue. The hotter it gets, the harder they have to work to keep themselves cool.
The Humane Society has provided 7 ways to keep your dog cool in this incredibly hot Charlotte weather:
#1 Never leave your pet in a parked car – Even on a cooler day, temperatures can exceed well over 100 degrees in a car.
#2 Use a cooling collar – Cooling collars have been found to keep pets up to 5-10 degrees cooler when temperatures exceed 90 degrees outside. You can pick one up at your local pet store or on Amazon.com for $15. In addition to cooling collars you also have dog cooling mats which also can be a massive helping hand.
#3 Limit exercise. Try to use the early mornings and evening hours to exercise your pet.
#4 Don’t use fans. Fans do not cool pets the same way it does people.
#5 Provide shade and water. When it’s really hot, add ice cubes to make the water extra cool.
#6 Keep them cool inside and out. Make some peanut butter popsicles, wrap your pet in a cooling vest and/or soak your pet in a cool bath.
#7 Make sure to check your pet for signs of heat stroke, including:
- Panting.
- Dehydration.
- Excessive drooling (ptyalism)
- Increased body temperature – above 103° F (39° C)
- Reddened gums and moist tissues of the body.
- Production of only small amounts of urine or no urine.
- Sudden (acute) kidney failure.
- Rapid heart rate.
It’s expected to remain in the mid to upper 90s for the rest of the week, so keep you and your pets safe by staying as cool as possible!
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