How to protect your pets from dangerous desert heat
We all know it’s hotter than the dickens in the valley at this time of year; tough enough on us humans, but let’s not forget little Fido and Sam the cat.
CBS Local 2’s Summer Survival Guide continues with Kris Long’s special report to help you protect your pets from this dangerous heat.
June was one of our hottest months on record for the desert. And we also know our weather won’t really cool off for another three months — the middle of October.
Chelsea Mills of Palm Desert loves her new friend. She brought ‘Chip’ into Animal Samaritans in Thousand Palms for his new-to-this-world vaccinations. Just three and a half months old, Chip was born a desert dog, but not unlike the thousands of canines who call the Coachella Valley their playground, Chip will have to deal with triple digit heat which is as common around here as palm trees.
And he’ll have to do that for a good four months of the year.
“Chip, he’s 14 weeks old, an English golden retriever,” Chelsea Mills said.
Coachella Valley Veterinarian Dr. Rolland Regnery explained some of the issues pets deal with in this extreme heat.
“Well, the first problems pets have is they don’t have a good way of dissipating their heat,” Dr. Regnery said. He also says dogs have one major disadvantage from their owners when it comes to dealing with hot temperatures: they don’t have the ability to sweat. And even panting can’t cool a dog down when overheated. And that can lead to heat stroke.
Dr. Regenery warns pet owners, particularly those with older pets, to watch for the warning signs of heat stroke, which include:
Rapid Panting Bright, Red Tongue Thick, Sticky Saliva
And the doctor warns that some dog breeds are more susceptible to heat stroke than others.
“Dogs that make more noise when they breathe, [such as] bulldogs, those guys have a real hard time when it’s hot,” Dr. Regnery said.
There are so many things we can do for our dogs and cats to make these hot months a little less stressful, and many of them are perfectly obvious, but that doesn’t make them any less important.
Water, just as it is for humans, is equally important for our four legged friends. They should always have access to clean, clear water. And remember, dogs in particular can occasionally tip over a water bowl. So if left at home for any length of time, think about putting out more than one water bowl for your dog.
To be extra sure your dog has a water source, veterinarians say to leave your toilet seat up. If need be, your dog will find it.
Dogs and cats need a cool, air conditioned home just as much as humans do when the mercury rises well into the triple digits. You should keep your pets inside in the heat of the day, and if they must spend a significant amount of time in the heat, make sure they at least have some shade. Even a small fan can provide relief for both dogs and cats.
And pay particular attention to your dog’s coat during hot summer months.
“The coat i smade like insulation to keep [dogs] warm in the winter, and cool in summer,” said Ray Johnson, owner of the Grooming Shop in Rancho Mirage. Ray has been a stylist to the four legged for almost four decades.
Although Ray likes to make the dogs look good, he is extremely aware that during triple digit heat, a little trim, especially for longhaired breeds, goes a long way toward helping them deal with the heat. But Ray makes sure not to shave off too much of this important, protective coat.
Dogs are susceptible to sunburn if shorn too near the skin, and they can even get skin cancer if subjected to too much sun. Ray also pays close attention to a dog’s paws.
“In summer we don’t have paws as close as in wintertime, because we want to leave a little hair on pads so its a little insulation or cushion on their feet when they’re out on pavement,” Ray Johnson said.
Also, exercise your dog in the early morning or late evening hours during triple digit heat days. It’s clear that the young golden retriever, Chip, has plenty of energy to burn off. His human Chelsea plans to be smart about helping him deal with our valley’s summer heat.
In our final report of the Summer Survival Guide, Chief Meteorologist Patrick Evans will look into creating defensible space around your home during fire season.
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