Humans are better equipped to handle the heat than dogs and cats because people perspire.
There's summer heat, and then there's oppressive summer heat.
We've experienced some of the latter recently, and while we do everything we can to keep ourselves cool, it's important to remember our pets as well.
Evan has it all figured out. "If it's hot to you it's just as hot for your dog or cat, and probably even worse," said John Gickling, a board certified veterinarian in emergency and critical care. "We're better equipped to handle the heat because we perspire."
Some tips on making sure your pets can deal with excessive heat:
* If you walk your dog, pick the coolest time of the day, follow a shady route and bring water for your pet.
* Older pets, overweight animals and dogs with short snouts suffer more in high heat.
* If your pet is outdoors, make sure it has a cool place to lay and that water is always available. Avoid taking your pets anywhere that has concrete or blacktop until temperatures normalize.
* Dogs may be overheating if they can't get up, aren't alert or can't stop panting. If you suspect overheating, hose your dog off but never use ice water, which worsens the situation. If this doesn't work, a visit to a veterinarian is important.
Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find The Star-Ledger on Facebook.
