Outdoors
Many animals benefit from spending time outdoors with access to natural sunlight, and some can even spend all their time in outdoor pens in nice weather. However, overheating can be a serious problem in the summer heat. If your pet spends any time outdoors, make sure shade is always available - pay attention as the sun moves across the sky to make sure that the shade doesn't disappear as the day goes on. For animals that live outdoors it is vital to make sure there is plenty of shelter and shade from the sun within their enclosures at all times!
Also make sure that a fresh water source is available at all time, and that it is kept clean. For pets that are outdoors, providing sprinklers, misters, or a shallow pool of water to climb into can help with cooling.
Be especially careful between 10 am and 3 pm as this is when the sun and heat tends to be most intense. If your pet is active outdoors, this is especially important, as it will be more difficult for a pet to cool down if it is exercising and producing added body heat.
Sunburn can also plague our pets, especially pot bellied pigs who don't have the benefit of a fur coat to protect their skin. Sunscreen can be used on pigs if necessary, but providing ample shade is most important. For other species, areas such as the nose, ear tips or any other sparsely haired areas can also be susceptible. Keeping pets out of the sun is probably the most prudent preventative measure against sunburn.
Heat Stroke
Signs of heat stroke include heavy panting, shakiness or staggering, disorientation or loss of consciousness. If you pet exhibits any of these signs, get him or her into a cooler location immediatley and get to a vet as soon as possible. Putting water on your pet can help cool it down on the way to the vet, but go slowly (don't soak your pet) and start on the extremeities (e.g. the legs).
Perhaps the biggest heat stroke risk for pets is being left enclosed in cars in the heat. Never leave a pet unattended in a car for any length of time. Even with the windows down, this can quickly become a lethal situation.
Most of the precautions we should take for our pets in the summer are simply common sense. Just remember that many pets do not have cooling systems as efficient as ours, so we must take a few extra steps to make sure they do not suffer from the heat.
More On Keeping Pets Cool:
- Lowering Water Temperatures - from Freshwater Aquariums
- Combating Rising Tank Temperatures - from Saltwater Aquariums
- Preventing Heatstroke - from Veterinary Medicine
- Help Your Cat Beat the Heat - Cats
- Keeping Dogs Cool in the Summer Heat - Dogs
- Hot Weather Horse Care- Horses