Too hot to trot: Experts issue summer alert for pet owners

Ludhiana: Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University experts are warning pet owners to take urgent precautions to protect dogs from summer heat, which can lead to irreversible organ damage and fatal heat stroke. While a dog’s normal body temperature ranges between 100.5°F and 102.5°F, exercising on hot, humid days can quickly push it to a lethal 105°F or 106°F.

Because dogs regulate their body temperature primarily through panting and heat dissipation via skin blood vessels, they can easily overheat even when drinking water is available. Black-coloured and long-haired breeds are especially susceptible to this severe heat stress.

Restrict outdoor activity to cooler hours

To minimise these risks, Dr Raj Sukhbir Singh from the university’s teaching hospital advises pet owners to restrict walks to the cooler hours of early morning or late evening. He warns that walking dogs on excessively hot pavement can cause severe burns to their foot pads, and leaving pets unattended inside parked vehicles is extremely dangerous since interior car temperatures can skyrocket within minutes even with windows cracked open.

Owners should instead keep dogs in well-shaded areas, avoid vigorous exercise entirely, clip the coats of long-haired breeds, and utilise cooling options like sprinklers, tubs, or kiddie pools while ensuring constant access to fresh water. Summer also brings a heightened risk of external parasites like ticks and fleas, making professional veterinary consultation for preventive care essential.

If a dog’s temperature begins to climb, owners must treat it as a life-threatening emergency, contact an emergency veterinarian immediately, and initiate cooling measures during transit. The dog should be cooled by applying cool water specifically around the neck, armpits, and groin, utilising fans or car air vents to lower temperature, and offering small quantities of cool drinking water.

Crucially, owners must avoid using ice or ice-cold water, as extreme cold causes blood vessels to constrict, which paradoxically traps heat inside the body and delays recovery.