Community Corner

Tips For Avoiding A Hot Dog

Like their human companions, pets are susceptible to heat stroke during Florida's hot summers.

With Florida's heat wave showing no signs of letting up, local veterinarians and animal hospitals are urging pet owners to take precautions with their pets.

  • Avoid physical activity during the heat of the day; keep exercise to the cooler mornings and evenings.
  • Ensure your pet has access to plenty of water throughout the day and during times of exercise.
  • Spray your pet down with room temperature or cool water, but never ice water. Ice cold water causes a decrease in blood flow to the skin and heat can’t escape the body properly, which actually makes heat exhaustion symptoms worse.
  • Make sure pets are kept inside air-conditioned spaces to avoid excess exposure to heat. Don't tether your dog outdoors in the summer heat. Hillsborough County now has an anti-tethering ordinance that prevents a dog from being tethered outdoors during extreme weather conditions, including heat. 
  • When walking or jogging with your pet, try to avoid asphalt as your pet’s paw pads can burn. Instead, stick to concrete, dirt or grass, as those surfaces are less hot.
  • Never leave your pet in a car unattended, even with the air conditioning running. If the air conditioning fails, your pet could easily over-heat in as little as a few minutes. Even when the temperature outside is 65 degrees, the temperature inside a vehicle with a window partially open can reach 102 degrees in 10 minutes. If you see an animal inside a parked car, notify Animal Services at 813-744-5660.
  • Don’t give sports drinks or electrolyte supplements to pets. Dogs cool off by panting and they do not sweat like people. Supplements like sports drinks can actually harm animals and make pets sick.
  • Most importantly, be familiar with your pet and know when something's wrong. Lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea and dark red gums are all signs of heat-related distress. If your pet is panting uncontrollably or collapses, take the animal to your veterinarian or nearest emergency veterinary hospital immediately.



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