By Dr. Laurie KELBAN

It’s summertime. The days are long and the weather is great for spending time outdoors with our pets. Can you imagine wearing a fur coat during the summer? Our pets not only wear fur coats year-round, but they also have a relatively inefficient way of cooling themselves, relying mainly on panting and sweating through their paw pads. Pets can become dangerously overheated very quickly.

All pets can be affected by the heat but pets with short noses and squished-in faces (brachycephalic breeds) are at higher risk for heat stroke. A few examples of high risk breeds include French bulldogs, English bulldogs, pugs, boxers, Shih Tzus, Pekingese and Persian cats. Your pet is also at higher risk for heat stroke if it is older, overweight or has underlying lung or heart disease.

It can be difficult to recognize early signs of heat stroke, so prevention is key. Limit walks to cooler morning and evening hours. Never leave your pet unattended in a car, even briefly, even if the windows are open. It is important to provide shade and plenty of cold water outside. Any pet showing distress should be brought indoors immediately:

• Put the pet in a cool room with no carpeting
• Wet the fur on paws, neck, belly, and inner thighs with cool (not cold) water
• Put pet in front of a fan and direct the fan on the wet areas
• Offer cool water to drink. Do not allow your pet to drink large amounts of water quickly. Smaller amounts more often are better. 

Heat stroke is a life threatening emergency requiring immediate veterinary care. If your pet exhibits any signs of becoming overheated it may be too late to treat at home. The following are signs of heat stroke: 

• Excessive panting
• Excessive drooling
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Weakness, stumbling, difficulty walking or standing
• Bright red, gray, purple or bluish gums
• Muscle tremors 

Sadly I have seen too many pets die when these symptoms were overlooked. 

One last heat-related danger: Your pet’s paw pads can easily burn on hot sand or asphalt. If it’s too hot for the back of your hand then it’s too hot for your pet’s paws. 

By taking a few simple precautions, you and your pets can make the most of the Southern California summer together. 

Dr. Laurie Kelban practiced small animal veterinary medicine for 34 years. She has spoken at local schools regarding pet care and careers in veterinary medicine and has written reports as an expert witness for the California Veterinary Medical Board.