Summer Pet Care - How to Prevent Heat Stress

Filed Under Pet Emergency Planning | Leave a Comment

Summer is almost here and all pet professionals should be aware of the dangers of the summer heat to our pets.  

Last summer my husband relayed to me an incident that a workmate had with his dog. He and his wife left their two dogs out in the yard while they attended church on Sunday morning. The dogs had plenty of shade and water but when they returned home and let the dogs in the house one of them collapsed on the floor. Believing that the dog was suffering from heat stress they doused him with cold water and then consulted the internet to check on the typical symptoms. Their research told them to check the gums of their dog as the gums of pets suffering from heat stress will be bright red. When they checked their dog they found that the gums were grey. They rushed him to the vet and their dog was diagnosed with a ruptured tumor in the stomach. 

As pet care professionals we should be able to immediately recognize the symptoms of heat stress. I did my own research and found that heat stress can set in within 10 minutes of a pet’s exposure to high heat environment and can have serious long term effects such as blood clotting and organ failure.  But don’t be too alarmed - heat stress can be easily prevented. With the summer months of high temperatures ahead of us it’s important for us all to be aware of the risk to our pets, minimize the danger, and be able act quickly to recognize the symptoms and take the correct treatment steps. Typically we hear about dogs suffering from heat stress but cats are also at risk. Pets with dark, heavy coats, and dogs with short noses such as Pugs, Pekinese and Boxers are most susceptible to heat. Heat stress occurs when the pet’s body temperature rises above 107F. Above this temperature cells begin to break down and die, and can also produce chemicals that damage the surrounding cells. 


To minimize the risk of heat stress never leave pets in vehicles or tied out in the direct sunlight during warm, sunny days… even a few minutes can be critical. Always provide them with plenty of cool water to drink. Flea markets and other outdoor activities are often the worst place to bring a dog on a hot summer day.   Factors that increase an animal’s risk of developing heat stroke include:  -  water deprivation, enclosed space,  excessive humidity, obesity, exercise, age, cardiovascular disease and lack of acclimatization 

Symptoms of heat stress that you should look for include:  - intense, rapid panting, wide eyes, salivating, staggering, weakness, dark red gums ,  respiratory distress or hyperventilationAdvanced heat stroke victims will collapse and become unconscious. If you notice your pet suffering from any of these symptoms and are close to a veterinary hospital it is advisable to take you pet immediately. Otherwise, you need to get the pets body temperature down by placing them in a tub of cool running water or spraying with a hose. Be sure that the water contacts the skin and doesn’t simply run off the coat. Thoroughly wet the belly and inside the legs. Take the pets temperature rectally if possible. Cool only until body temperature lowers to 103F. It is possible to cause hypothermia if the pets body temperature falls to low. Once the pet has been cooled veterinary attention should be sought as soon as possible.

Disaster Planning for Pets

Filed Under Pet Emergency Planning | Leave a Comment

Last week we found ourselves in the path of the tornado that swept across Dallas Fort Worth. We sheltered with our pets in our home as the sirens sounded and were hit by hail just larger than golf ball size.  We were lucky - the tornado touched down just south of us causing minor damage to homes and stores but passed over our neighborhood leaving only hail damage.  It left me wondering what we would we have done with our pets - and our pet sitting clients pets - if the storm had been more serious.  So today I wanted to give you some information that can help you to put together your own pet disaster plan.

Everyone should have a disaster plan for themselves and their pets. If you have a pet business you also need to have a plan to make sure your clients pets are cared for if you have a personal emergency or are involved in a community evacuation.  These emergencies need not be as dramatic as a tornado but can include sudden illness of yourself or a family member or bad road conditions that don’t allow you to get home or to homes of your clients.

At a pet sitting conference we attended earlier this year one of the sitters suggested that pet business owners should take the Disaster planning course offerred by the Humane Society.  Their course “Disaster Animal Response Training” is a 3 day training that covers all aspects of caring for pets in a distaster.  Visit their site to find a regional office close to you.

Some of the other great information available at their website includes how to put together a pet disaster kit for your home or vehicle,  and how to plan ahead to find hotels and boarding facilities in your surrounding area that you can take your animals to if you have to evaculate your home.

A few simple things to do right away are to:

1) Ensure your pets wear identification that includes your contact numbers and address

2) Find a trusted neighbor that the pets are comfortable with and give them a key so that they could enter your home and take care of your pets if you can’t make it home for any reason. Make sure they are familiar with pets habits and hiding places and the location of pet supplies and disaster kit.

3) If you evacuate - take your pets with you. Have leashes and carriers handy in case you have to evacuate with your pets.

I also found some great tips on questions to ask during disaster planning in an article by Diana Guerrero “WHY ANIMAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS?”. She also addresses animal behavior during and after a disaster.

Having a documented disaster plan is a great marketing tool for your business as it highlights your professionalism and committment to your clients pets safety.