We are bracing in anticipation of a long hot summer and the summer
in Virginia is brutal. It is important
for us all not to forget about how the heat affects our pets. If you have a dog that is kept outside all the
time please make sure they have shade or a place to get away from the hot sun, and
that their pen or area has good ventilation and access to plenty of clean fresh
water to drink. If they are long-hair
ask your vet if they should have a summer cut or shave. Another concern is exercising your dog
outside in the heat. Last year we had a
dog walker take one of our larger/older dogs for a long walk/run when it was 90
degrees and after 15 minutes the dog was in distress from the over exertion and
the heat of the day. According to
Vetinfo website, signs of heat exhaustion and when you should immediately
intervene include: heavy panting, hyperventilation (deep breathing), increased
salivation early then dry gums as the heat prostration progresses, weakness,
confusion or inattention, vomiting or diarrhea, sometimes bleeding. Signs of heatstroke include: obvious paleness
or graying to the gums, swallowing of the breathing efforts, slowed or absent
breathing efforts, vomiting and diarrhea that may be bloody, seizures or coma.
Heatstroke is a
medical emergency you must act quickly and calmly. In our case we called the
vet immediately while staff applied towels soaked in cool water to the hairless
areas of his body, then we took him to our veterinarian once his temperature
had decreased to a safe level.
The other major topic during the summer months is pets being
left in cars. We have all seen it or have
heard stories about people leaving their pets in the car on a hot day. When I see a dog in a car that I am very
concerned about I call animal control or if you like you can always go into the
store and have the staff or manager page the person and hopefully educate them
on the dangers.
So why is it so dangerous?
On a 85 degree day for example the temperature inside your car with the
windows slightly opened will reach 102 in 10 minutes. In 30 minutes it will go up to 120
degrees. On a warmer day it will go even
higher. A dog’s normal body temperature
is 101.5 to 102.2 degrees. A dog can
withstand a body temperature of 107-108 for only a very short period of time
before suffering brain damage or even death.
The closed car acts like an oven and interferes with the dog’s normal
cooling process that is, evaporation through panting.
Wouldn’t it be nice if Animal Control officers could charge
people a fine or give them a ticket if they find their dog left in these
conditions? Unfortunately, right now, there are no ordinances in the City of
Lynchburg prohibiting owners from leaving dogs in their cars like other cities
such as Alexandria or Salem. Unless the
dog dies there is nothing animal control can do. So for instance if they find a dog in a car
and the temperature is 80 degrees or higher the owner would get a ticket. If you are interested in seeing this type of
ordinance I suggest you contact your city council member in your ward and voice
your interest or support in this type of ordinance. Lives could be saved and people would have a
consequence if they are careless with the treatment of their pet.
So let’s all try staying cool this summer and remember your
pets.
An animal trapped in a hot vehicle is hard to see, but where would the line be drawn? At what outside temperature? When it's cool outside, nobody should be in my face thinking they know better than me. There are plenty of people who cruise parking lots looking to cause problems for people when it isn't hot - their argument being no access to food, water, etc. I see strangers all the time circling another stranger's car when there's a pet inside and it'll be all of about 45 degrees outside. geeze. These "do-gooders" need stopping too and there should be a law to stop them when there's no harm to the animal. but again, harm would need DEFINING.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I'm tired of being punished for others stupidity. If you want such a law then there should be a clear mention of what outside temperature should be written into the law.
You can't have it both ways - you can't insist that people keep their pets inside, but also leave them at home. During the hot summer other arrangements should be made, but what you're proposing is going to cause year long problems.