How to protect your pets during the heatwave in the Central Valley
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – If the heat can be taxing on even a healthy person, just think about how it’s affecting furry friends who can’t exactly voice when conditions become too dangerous.
Temperatures are scorching hot in the Central Valley. 24/7 Pet Vets Veterinarian, Dr. Eve Shaw, says any animal can have a heatstroke, and any animal can ultimately die from it.
“The past day I have had three pets come in that were all deceased at the time of arrival.”
She wants pet owners to do all they can so that no animal is left to suffer. Taking proper care of pets can not only save their lives but also save their owners from a hefty bill.
“The first thing that we do is we ask for what’s called a critical, which allows us to get started on all of our work, a critical run to about $1300 here,” Dr. Shaw said.
Owners who take their dogs outdoors for a walk are asked to pay attention to their behavior and never leave them unattended. If a dog starts panting frantically and seems lethargic, it’s probably time to go inside.
“I would not have a dog out in the kind of heat we’ve been seeing for more than five minutes at most,” said Dr. Shaw.
She explained that dogs only sweat from very small areas, and certain breeds are even more prone to overheating quicker than others.
“Their membranes become swollen, then they’re breathing even harder and eventually it comes to a point where this cycle causes them to die.”
Dog owners are suggested to walk their dogs early in the morning or late in the evening, and to try to stay on the grass or cover their paws if walking them on sidewalks.
If an owner would not want to walk barefoot on the pavement during a 100 degree-weather, their pet most probably doesn’t want to do it either.
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