Qpets

Category: Weather

  • Many State Officials Warn of Dangers Leaving Pets in Hot Cars

    The sun has been shining with temperatures rising over the past few days in western Massachusetts and pet owners need to be aware of the potential dangers.  “Whenever there’s a heat advisory, that means that there’s professionals telling us there’s a warning. There’s some kind of advisory that we have to be careful and that doesn’t just go for us, but for all living beings that we look out for,” said Pam Peebles, executive director of the Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center.  Peebles said they’re receiving numerous calls about a top concern this time of year: people leaving their pets out in the heat and inside parked cars.  “Our phones are very busy. They don’t stop…We’re finding people that are dismissive or offer up so many reasons of why that happened and…there’s almost no excusable reason to leave your animal outdoors right now,” Peebles explained.

    The temperature outside is 80 degrees or hotter. We’re told the level of heat inside a parked car is too dangerous for a pet.  “A vehicle in over minutes can raise 30 degrees…That car, even on an 80 degree sunny day, can heat up to the full temperatures, so when we get past 80 degrees, it’s very different than going on a walk with your dog, being confined in a vehicle in the sun can be lethal,” Peebles noted.

    If you think leaving your pet in a parked car with the windows down is okay, think again.

    “It doesn’t matter if the windows are cracked or down a third of the way in a vehicle, it is no place for an animal – period – when the temperatures are hot,” Peebles added.  However, if you do see a pet in a hot situation, Peebles told Western Mass News that it’s important to tell someone.  “Make that phone call to police or animal control. If it’s a car, then go into the nearest store and report it to a store manager and then they can make a page and follow up with animal control. Try not to take matters into your own hands,” Peebles said.

    Massachusetts isn’t the only place that has this problem.  According to The Star, the Easton Police Department is warning residents against leaving animals in hot cars. EPD says its officers respond to “dogs in car” complaints almost daily during the summer.  “The normal response the owners give is that the dog was only left in the car for a short time or that they did not think it was that hot out,” an EPD press release stated. “The truth is that it doesn’t take long, and outside temperatures don’t need to be all that high for your car to become an unsafe place for your dog to be.”

    EPD shared information from the American Veterinary Medical Association, which the police force said “may help shed light on the dangers associated with leaving animals in cars.”  The temperature inside a vehicle, the release stated, “can rise almost 20ºF in just 10 minutes. In 20 minutes, it can rise almost 30ºF, and the longer you wait, the higher it goes.”  “At 60 minutes, the temperature in your vehicle can be more than 40º higher than the outside temperature. Even on a 70º day, that’s 110º inside your vehicle,” EPD wrote.

    The police department is urging people to “please leave your pets at home” because “it’s safer for them.”

    Source: WestMassNews & The Star

  • Veterinarian Gives Advice to Prevent Your Pets From Heat Stroke This Summer

    It is that week all over the US.  The one where the temperature continues to climb. Meteorologists are warning about the dangers of being outside.  And if we feel the heat — just imagine how hot it is for pets.  Our pets count on us to take care of them. With temperatures like this, Dr. Reggie Little, a Veterinarian at Animal Medical Center said its important to know the signs and symptoms for a heat stroke.

    “Heat strokes happen very quickly and when they do, problems come very quickly too,” said Little. “So you need to be able to recognize it, if you think they are struggling just from exercise in general or you come back and you’ve left them in a car, make sure you get them to the veterinarian quickly because bad things happen quickly and we have to take them in and really get them cooled off.”

    Dr. Little said there are many symptoms of heat exhaustion and pet owners need to watch for these signs.

    “Panting and if you see them really labor breathing and you look at your dog’s normal tongue color you want a pink tongue,” said Little. “If that thing is purple, dark red, if they are panting and salivating, anything else can happen.”

    Little said one of the best things you can do is to just keep your dog inside

    “The air conditioning is the best place to be, said Little. “If you can’t keep them inside, provide everything you possibly can for help. Shade and natural shade is the best if you can in trees and make sure that you provide coverings and awnings and watch out for concrete if that dog kennel in on concrete it heats up so fast. So make sure you try and provide anything you can to cool down.”

    “Freshwater, clean water, changing it out regularly. Kiddie pools are great ideas, get yourself a kiddie pool and fill it up with water and let them play in it.”

    When it comes to your dog’s health, make sure you are.

    “Using common sense, said Little. “If you’re hot, they’re hot. get them inside and don’t let them get in the car, that’s just not a good thing.”

    If you do want to take your dog on a walk or run, the best times to go are early in the morning or later in the afternoon.

    Check out the original report from WCBI in Mississippi.

    Source: WCBI

  • How to keep pets safe during world record-breaking cold weather!

    cold pets

    Much of the nation will be getting an early preview of winter this week as temperatures threaten record lows at dozens of locations, including parts of the South not used to freezing conditions at this time of year. That means pulling out the heavy coats from storage – and making accommodations for keeping pets safe and comfortable.

    Animal-care experts suggest that, as a rule of thumb, if the weather outside is too cold for humans to withstand, they should bring their pets inside and let them out just long enough to do their bodily functions. When dogs shiver in the cold, they’re showing clear signs of discomfort.

    “Some people think, ‘Well, he’s a husky, I can leave him out while I’m at work.’ They don’t want to be out there,’’ said Chris Whitmore, an animal services coordinator in Iowa City, which is expecting snow and a low of 7 degrees Monday. “He might enjoy it when you’re there to watch him, but when it’s this cold, we always tell people, ‘Don’t leave your pet outside. It’s just not safe.’’’

    winter pets

    We all know to bring our pets inside when it gets too cold, but here some tips you may not know from the ASPCA.

    Whitmore and other authorities in the field offered a number of tips for the millions of American animal lovers who will be dealing with chilly weather in the coming days. Such as:

    • Cover them up: Dogs with thicker coats have a higher tolerance to cold weather, but short-haired breeds such as chihuahuas, beagles and greyhounds don’t have much natural shield from the elements. If taking them out for a walk of more than a few minutes, put a sweater or coat on them. Booties provide added protection for their feet if your dog will tolerate them. That part of their bodies is especially vulnerable to the rock salt often used as an ice-melting agent, which irritates paws and can be harmful if swallowed. Once back inside, make sure to wipe off the dog’s feet and belly with a moist rag.
    • Watch out for the wind chill: It’s not just the thermometer reading that matters. “The wind takes your body temperature away from you,’’ Whitmore said. “The wind chill is the worst part when it gets this cold.’’
    • Knock on the car hood or blow the horn: Cats have a knack for finding warm spots when it’s cold, but oftentimes that can be a wheel well or a nook underneath the hood of a car that was recently turned off. The noise from a knock or the horn will scare them away. “Every winter we get cases where a cat has been killed or severely injured because they were napping near the engine and the engine was turned on,’’ said Rob Halpin, director of public relations for a branch of the Massachusetts SPCA in Boston, where the mercury is expected to dip into the low 20s Tuesday and Wednesday.
    • Beware of antifreeze: Animals are drawn to the smell and sweet taste of ethylene glycol in regular antifreeze, which crystallizes in their lungs and kills them. Colder temperatures often remind drivers to add antifreeze to their vehicles, and spillages become hazardous to animals. There is a pet-safe version of antifreeze that uses propylene glycol instead – some states require its use – but it’s more expensive and some drivers eschew it.
    • Go out with them: As uncomfortable as it might be, it’s best to take dogs out to do their business instead of letting them roam by themselves in the yard. Though most dogs will want to scurry back where it’s warm, some may not be able to resist chasing a squirrel or running around.
    winter dogs

    “They’re like children. They don’t know when they’re starting to get frostbite, hypothermia, so you have to be the responsible one.’’

     Chris Whitmore: Animal Services Coordinator, Iowa City
    • Don’t leave pets in the car: The Chicago branch of PAWS says cold weather can create “a freezer-like environment’’ inside a car that’s turned off, so it discourages owners from traveling with their pets during the winter. If pets must come along, they shouldn’t be let alone in the vehicle even for short spells.
    • Set up a warm place to sleep: Keep pets away from any draft and off the floor by providing them a bed or basket with a blanket or pillow in it.
    • Shelter, food, and water: Stray cats can withstand temperatures around 15-20 degrees but are in danger of hypothermia when the mercury drops lower. Some cities give away small, insulated boxes that serve as shelter for cats – they can also be made easily out of Styrofoam coolers – and volunteers or other residents spread them around. “That can mean the difference between life and death for an outdoor cat or cats,’’ Halpin said.

    For people who like to look after neighborhood cats that may visit from time to time, experts suggest leaving food and warm water available to them. It’s important the water remains liquid because hydration is critical to maintaining proper body temperature.

    More info: Check on the websites of animal-protection organizations such as the Humane Society and the ASPCA.

    Site: usatoday.com

  • Cool Tips for COOL Pets this Summer!

    Summer is already here and as temperatures rise, we must keep in mind ways to keep ourselves and our furry friends cool and safe. Animals respond differently than humans to heat, so dogs, cats and other pets need special care during hot weather. During extremely hot weather, it might not be safe to take your dog out for a walk, especially without shoes.
    Keep in mind that if the pavement feels too hot to touch, it is too hot for them to walk on.

    If you suspect the hot weather might have affected your pet, look for signs signs of heat stroke, such as fast and noisy breathing, difficulty swallowing and distressed behavior. According to the ASPCA, animals with flat faces, like Pugs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heat stroke since they cannot pant as effectively. If you suspect your pet is having a heat stroke, place a cold, wet towel on the back of the animal’s head, and towel-wrapped cold compresses on their back legs and belly.

    If your pet is elderly, overweight or has other health problems, avoid taking them outside and keep them in air-conditioned rooms instead. The pet should be immediately taken to the veterinarian to be checked. Especially during hot weather, make sure the pet has fresh drinking water that is served in a large container, instead of a shallow bowl, to allow the water to remain cold longer.

    You can also try giving your pet ice cubes to eat or add them to the water bowl. Our Qpets WF-300 Filtered Water Fountain not only continuously filters your pets drinking water through a charcoal filter, but it also has a big reservoir that can be filled with ice cubes from an ice machine in your fridge or from any average size ice tray. If you keep the WF-300 outside in the shade or inside your home, it can keep the water cool for your pets all afternoon!

    Don’t leave pets by themselves in cars, and keep pets at home if necessary.
    If you want to take your dog on a walk, try taking them out early in the morning or evening, when the weather and pavement have cooled down.

    In case of any health concerns, the ASPCA suggest you take a trip to the vet and have your pet get an early-summer checkup.