COLUMBIA, S.C. — One positive that came out of self isolating during the coronavirus was that many animal shelters were cleared with people adopting new pets.
Something that comes with living in the South however, is the extreme heat in the summer. It's important to make sure your pet stays safe when the temperature rises.
Both heat exhaustion and other heat injuries are possible with dogs, even when temperatures are as "low" as 80 degrees.
“Don’t let the thermometer fool you," Dr. Tracy Schlicksup tells WLTX. "We probably see most heat stroke in the 80s. It doesn't need to be 100 degrees for your pet to get heat exhaustion, it’s more about their adapting to the heat. So as you’re getting into the spring and summertime it’s not about avoiding the hot days all the time, sometimes it’s just about them getting used to the heat before they get pushed too hard with play."
According to Dr. Schlicksup, dogs are pleaser pets, so they will try and do as much as you want them to. Because of this, it's important to pick up on cues that your dog is heating up.
"If they are requesting to slow down and not go forward then you want to try and respect that and not push them too hard.”
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It’s better to let your pet judge for themselves when it’s time to slow down, such as when they’re off leash at the dog park or in your backyard. During the peak heating of the day, it's best to avoid walking, running, or playing ball.
If you are going to take your dog on a walk, Dr. Tracy says it’s better to go earlier in the day.
“We usually say in the morning, evenings can be good as well, especially this time of year. As we get to August sometimes the heat index is still pretty high at the end of the day as well.”
When you are walking, try to avoid concrete and pavement, which can dramatically increase in temperatures on even just a warm day.
For example, on a warm 85 degree day, the concrete can measure near 105 degrees, while the pavement measures closer to 130 degrees.
If you cannot avoid the heat and need to take your dog out during the middle of the day, try and stay on grassy surfaces.
If you notice your pet slowing down or becoming disoriented during the heat, your best course of action is to cool them off by submerging them in water. If their condition continues to worsen, you should contact your local vet.