They’re hot too: Keeping pets safe amid excessive heat

JACKSON, Tenn. — High temperatures have been common over the last few days and we wanted to get some tips on how to keep your pets safe.

Staying hydrated, not getting overheated, finding shade, and remaining as cool as possible are great tips for us to stay safe during heat. However, our pets equally need all of these things as well.

Caty Perritt, the President of the Carroll County Humane Society, tells us more.

“Fresh water — that means, this time of year, multiple times a day,” Perritt said. “If you run into a situation where something is too hot, which does happen — animals have heat strokes just like people can — you have to cool them gradually. You can’t just ice them down.”

A great way to do this is by putting a cold towel around their neck. Making sure their paw pads are safe should also be a priority.

“Even the grass is hot to walk around during certain parts of the day,” said Perritt. “Especially if you are walking on sidewalks, asphalt, or gravel, those get super hot. So it is something to consider doing your walks early in the day or later in the evenings.”

It is also important to understand some of the signs and symptoms that your pet may be showing if they get too hot.

“They are more lethargic than usual, if they are just laying down, if you are trying to walk a dog on a leash and they lay down and won’t get up, that is a sign that they have overheated,” said Perritt.

Dogs pant in order to cool down. If they are not panting and have a dry mouth, this is also another sign.

Early mornings and later in the evening are always the best time to have your pets outside. Just like with humans, the peak hours in the afternoon are when it is most dangerous.

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