Hello on this Hot Oklahoma day! As I was trying to figure out what our next blog should be about, I realized that what better time to give some advice on the dangers of the heat then now. Heat stroke is, unfortunately, a very common thing that happens to our pets during the hot summer months and it is very preventable.

The most important thing that everyone needs to know is what the signs are they should be watching for and some of these signs are:

• heavy panting
• dehydration
• increased body temperature (above 103 F)
• irregular heartbeats
• excessive drooling
• reddened gums and moist tissues of the body

These again are just a few signs to look for at home and if any of these signs do occur, please visit the nearest Veterinarian to you. Some risk factors that should be taken into consideration is if your pet has previous history of heat-related diseases, very young or very old, thick hair coats, obesity, brachycephalic breeds, and poor heart or lungs; just to name a few.

If your pet experiences any of these signs the main goal is to cool them down. The tricky part is not dropping their temperature too quickly. This can cause other complications and more trauma on your pet’s body. Call your Veterinarian and they will be able to walk you through what exactly to do for the significance of your pet’s symptoms. Keeping plenty of fresh cool water available for your pets and plenty of shade is going to help them during the summer heat. If they can come inside during the hottest times of the day, it is the best thing for them but we understand there are some of those strictly outside pets and keeping them safe is a huge thing to do during the ever-changing weather.

I wanted to keep this blog very short but elaborate with information. I hope these tips help owners know the dangers of the heat and possibly help save a pet’s life one day.