Summer Safety Tips
Summer is here and that means plenty of time spent outdoors, especially here in Humboldt. But as the summer sun sheds its light on our green county, it is important to keep an eye out for our furry friends’ safety.
Greenhouse on wheels
Although it may not seem like it, the heat here in Humboldt can get to dangerous levels. Especially in SoHum and more inland or on the river bars. It is always advisable to keep this in mind when out with our pets. As temperatures rise this summer, it is important to remember the number one rule of pet safety: NEVER leave your pet inside a hot car. A quick trip inside the grocery store may seem innocuous enough, but temperatures inside a car will skyrocket to dangerous levels within minutes of walking away from your car. Car interiors can get hot enough to cook an egg even with the windows down!
So, how does this happen? Well, consider the environment inside your car to be going through the same process at play in global climate change, except on a smaller scale. It’s a greenhouse on wheels! And that greenhouse effect is what causes the exponentail rise in temperature. As the sun’s rays enter the car through the windows, the energy is absorbed by the various solid objects in the car, such as the seats, steering wheel, and dashboard. These heated objects in turn heat the air molecules in the car, which are unable to effectively escape the car’s interior.
These conditions are dangerous enough for humans, but due to the way dogs release heat, it becomes even more so. Sweat works to cool us down, but dogs lack these sweat glands. Their tongue works as a little swamp cooler, using evaporative cooling to cool down their body. All that evaporated water in an environment like our cars increase humidity in the vehicle, which makes it take longer for moisture to leave the body. All of these factors make a hot car an unsafe environment for your beloved pet. It doesn’t take long before a dog can succumb to heatstroke. If you do plan on taking a car trip with your pet, make sure to provide them with plenty of water, shade, and never leave them locked in the car!
Hot Paws
Image: @ruffwear & @tylerroemer
The temperature of the ground may not be something us footwear-clad humans think about often, but our pets certainly feel the heat of a summer’s asphalt. Be aware that pets can suffer burns on their paws, so make sure to test any ground they will be walking on by touching for several seconds. Cats and dogs also regulate their heat through the bottom of their paws, so hot feet can result in overheating. If you know you will be traversing hot lands, try some protective footwear for your pet.
Sunburns
Unfortunately, the shiny coat of your pet doesn’t always provide enough protection from overexposure. Dogs with shorter or light-colored coats are more susceptible to burns on the body, while all dogs are vulnerable in more sensitive skin areas such as nose, underbelly, and genitals. Luckily, you can avoid getting sunburned by sticking to shady areas and using pet safe sun screens. Using UV protectant apparel can also be a great way to keep our pets safe.
Shaving to keep em cool
A common mistake we see pet owners often do in the summer is shave their long coated and double coated dogs during the hotter months of the year. DO NOT SHAVE YOUR DOGS. Not only is this harmful to their skin and coat health, but it actually exposes them to excess heat and solar radiation, making overheating and burning even more common. Some dogs even experience “post-clipping alopecia,” or that the coat won’t grow back at all. Their coats act as an insulating layer from the heat and UV radiation and removing this doesn’t allow them to properly NATURALLY thermoregulate. Again, DO NOT SHAVE YOUR DOGS. Their coat naturally keeps them cool by blowing their undercoat leaving their guard hair, this hair allows cool air to pass along their skin and reflects UV radiation. The simple solution THAT ACTUALLY WILL WORK to keep them cool will be to continue to groom their undercoat throughout the hotter months with regular brushing.
Dehydration
@ruffwear
Fluid intake is paramount once it starts to heat up. Your dog’s water levels fluctuate through-out the day, but during the summer, it becomes extra important to make sure they have access to a drinking source. If your dog is panting, it is losing internal mositure to evaporation in exhange for keeping cool (like when we sweat). Watch out for signs of dehydration such as excessive panting, loss of skin elasticity, lethargy, dry nose, and sunken eyes. If you’ll be traveling or just out and about, try taking a portable water bowl , so that your dog is never without something to drink.
