The summer of 2022 has settled in here in Indiana, and it’s been a hot one so far. At Hoosier Indoor Air, we focus on keeping you and your family cool and comfortable during the hot months – and that includes the four-legged members of your family. After all… if you think it’s hot – imagine how hot it would feel with a full fur coat on! Hot weather presents a danger to your family animals, and you need to know how to protect your pets from the heat. Here are some tips that should keep your furry friends safe this summer!
How to Protect Your Pets from the Heat
Many Pets Need Active Cooling
Nothing beats fresh, cold water and a climate controlled environment. On the hottest days, shade and water barely do the trick, and you should try to keep your pets in an actively-cooled environment – like inside your cool and comfortable home. If they’re outdoor-only pets, allowing them access to your garage or crawlspace can help, but if that’s not allowed you can try to find other ways to actively cool them down – such as providing a shaded kiddie pool or just hitting them with some water from the hose.
Old, sick, fragile animals, as well as dog breeds bred for harsh winters (like huskies and malamutes) should be outside as little as possible.
Shave and a Haircut
A quick trip to the pet groomer can improve your pet’s summer heat tolerance tremendously. Shaving off their fur allows them to both absorb less heat and get rid of it faster – both plusses on a hot summer day. We advise you do this early in the summer, so that your pet’s coat is fully returned by fall.
Watch for heat stroke signs
Just like people, pets can suffer from heat strokes during the extremely hot summer days. Dogs and cats dissipate heat via panting, and it’s just not as effective as sweating is. Pets heat up faster and cool down slower, so even if you’re not feeling they heat, they might be. Keep an eye out for these signs that your pet has had a heat stroke:
- Glazed over eyes
- Very fast heartbeat
- Troubled/irregular breathing,
- Dizziness and lack of coordination and awareness
- Fever
- Seizures or Unconsciousness.
Animals who are very young, very old, or not conditioned to exercise are more at risk to heat strokes
Plan or Avoid Exercise
On hot days, that grueling run you and your dog usually take at noon is a bad idea, even if they normally like the exercise. Lower the intensity or duration of your workouts, or do them around dusk, night, or dawn when the temperature’s lower. Always carry water, too – both for you and your pet.
Never Keep Pets in the Car
The interior of your car heats up incredibly rapidly, and can be damaging or fatal to your pet within as little as 10 minutes. Never leave your pet in your car with the windows up or the air conditioning off. Better yet – never leave them in your car at all.
Call Hoosier Indoor Air – We’ll Make You AND Your Pets Comfortable this Summer!
A good rule of thumb when it comes to how to protect your pets from the heat: treat them like you would yourself or another human. That means keep them cool and comfortable. That’s where we come in! Hoosier Indoor Air offers all the HVAC services you and your pets need to stay cool this summer including air conditioning maintenance, repair, and installation of new equipment. For an estimate, questions, or inquiries, give us a call today at +13177236511 to set up your appointment!
