Keeping your pets cool in the heat
Posted Jul 16, 2013 07:21:24 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA – We are in for another stretch of sultry weather and it’s not just us who suffer from the extreme heat, it’s also our pets.
Veterinarians are reminding you to ensure your pets have access to plenty of water and a nice cool, shady spot.
They warn against taking your dog for a walk during the hottest part of the day and to never leave your dog in a car, even for a few short minutes.
According to the Ottawa Humane Society, a dog’s normal cooling process — panting — doesn’t work when there is only hot air to breathe in. A dog can withstand internal body temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius for only a few minutes before brain damage or death can occur.
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Meanwhile, when it comes to the sun, black dogs can easily become overheated because their coat absorbs heat.
With short-haired white dogs, the owners have to be concerned about sunburn, especially on the tips of the ears, the nose and the stomach.
