COLUMBUS, Ohio — Just like we need to take breaks from the heat, so do your pets!
It’s easy for animals to be subject to heat exhaustion after spending long durations outside. If you find your pet suffering from heatstroke, experts suggest moving them into the shade or air-conditioning. Apply ice packs to their head, neck and chest. Take them directly to your veterinarian for further help.
Breeds with shorter hair could be subject to sunburns. Concrete and pavement can also quickly heat up on a hot day causing damage to your pet’s paws.
Dr. Joseph Snyder, Interim Section Head of Community Practice OSU Veterinary Medical Center "The paw pads can become really sensitive and soft during the winter when they are not out so much walking on them so they can actually burn from the heat of those surfaces and they actually can like you scrape your knee very abraded we call that," said Dr. Joseph Snyder, Interim Section Head of Community Practice OSU Veterinary Medical Center.
Provide ample shade and water or schedule time outside to earlier or later in the day.
Certain pests can be more prevalent in the summer like ticks.
“Flea and tick bites are how they transmit diseases to your pets. For example, ticks can give your dog Lyme Disease or Rocky Mountain Fever just like they can to people," Dr. Snyder said.
You can find more information and tips here.