Pets need extra care during the dog days

Pets need extra care to prevent heat exhaustion, dehydration and other problems associated with the dog days of summer, expected to arrive over the next several days.

Temperatures are expected to climb over the 90-degree mark for the next several days with only a slight drop into the 80s Monday and Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service's seven-day forecast for the Salt Lake area. Pet owners need to remember that hot weather brings about additional hazards to their animal's health.

Leaving a pet alone in a parked car can be deadly. Stanford University researchers have shown that on an 85-degree day it only takes 30 minutes for temperatures to reach 120 degrees inside a car. At 110 degrees pets are in danger of heatstroke.

"A rule of thumb is that if it's warmer than 70 degrees outside — it's too hot," said Temma Martin, spokeswoman for Salt Lake County Animal Services. "I've done experiments in my car and fried eggs and baked cookies on my dashboard during the summer. People don't mean to hurt their pets, but they underestimate how quickly they can suffer from heatstroke. We get a few calls every day about pets left alone in cars and every year some of them die."

Outdoor play becomes a problem when the days get hot. Exercise or jogging routines should be changed to early morning or later in the evening to prevent an animal from getting burned on hot pavement, dehydrated or overheated. Knowing the symptoms of overheating is important. Those signs include excessive panting, drooling, sluggishness and unresponsiveness. If a dog starts exhibiting those symptoms they need to be taken inside, cooled down with water and taken to the veterinarian if the symptoms persist or get worse.

Don't shave long thick fur coats on pets for the summer. Fur is a natural insulator. But it is important to keep the fur well groomed and free from tangles, burs, seeds, mats and insects.

Summer is the peak season for insects. Dogs need updates on heartworm, flea and tick medication to combat the growing insect population. Contact with toads, spiders, snakes and scorpions should also be avoided.

"The best way to deal with snakes is to carry a stick, make loud noises and keep your dog close to you," Teresa Branham, practice manager for Quail Pointe Veterinary Hospital in Clearfield, said. "Don't let your dog get too far in front or in back of you."