Page 50 Healthy Cells Magazine Peoria July 2014

F
inally, warm weather has arrived in Central Illinois! Warmer
temperatures mean pets need special care. The extreme tem-
peratures of an Illinois summer require that owners pay special
attention to their animals to prevent heat-related problems. Besides
the hot sun, pets can also suffer from exposure to parasites like flies,
mosquitoes, and ticks. This summer, let's protect our animal friends by
keeping these important tips in mind:
Most Important, Leave Your Pet at Home on Hot Days.
While you may love your pet so much you want to take him with
you, leaving your pet in a car on a hot day can seriously injure or kill
him. It's just too dangerous. Even with the windows open, the inside of
the car can reach more than 160 degrees in just a few minutes. Each
summer in the Peoria area, an animal suffers from heat exhaustion or
dies because they've been left inside a hot car. Save your pet by leav-
ing him home on hot days! And, state and local laws prohibit an owner
from leaving their dog in a hot car you can be cited and your animal
impounded if you violate this ordinance.
Fresh, Clean Water
Fresh, clean water is a must for all animals. Without water, pets can
get dehydrated and quickly succumb to heat exhaustion. Dogs may tip
over the bowls or buckets so it's a good idea to anchor their water so
they have access to it all day. The water needs to be changed daily as
well when it sits in the hot sun, algae can develop.
Relief From the Sun
Make sure your pet can get to shade throughout the day. A dog-
house may provide protection from rain, but it can be an oven on very
hot days. Watch your yard throughout the day to ensure your dog can
always get out of the sun often the shady part of the yard in the
morning ends up being in direct sunlight in the afternoon.
Keep Inside
On really hot days, take your pet inside if possible. With a heat
index over 100 degrees, pets will do better inside with air condition-
ing. Or, put your pet in a cool area of your house like the basement.
Certain breeds of dogs those suited for very cold weather can be
particularly uncomfortable in our humid, hot weather. Huskies, Mala-
mutes, Samoyeds, and others who do great in cold temperatures can
really suffer in an Illinois summer. Keep your pet's breed in mind when
determining where they'll live.
Signs of Distress
If you see your pet showing signs of distress excessive pant-
ing or lethargic behavior or should he become unresponsive, seek
veterinary care immediately. Don't wait extreme heat can cause
brain damage and death very quickly. Call your veterinarian for ways to
bring your pet's body temperature down while you're transporting him
to the veterinary office.
Flea and Tick Protection
Warm weather also brings out the bugs. Fleas, flies, ticks, and
mosquitoes create all kinds of problems for dogs and cats. Flies can
actually eat away a dog's ears prevent this type of injury by using a
fly repellent for outside dogs. Fleas not only make a pet miserable with
itching and scratching, they can actually cause your pet to be anemic.
Ticks and mosquitoes can transmit Lyme disease or heartworm. Con-
sult your veterinarian for prevention or treatment possibilities.
Summer holidays are great, but our favorite, the 4th of July, pres-
ents special threats for pets. Each year, dogs and cats panic and run
off when frightened by fireworks and the chaotic atmosphere that go
along with them. Worse, a roaming or lost cat or dog can fall victim to
torment or torture.
Firecrackers, bottle rockets, spinners, and other retail fireworks
injure animals each year. Mixing pyrotechnics and pets can create a
danger for people as well. At a backyard cookout or at the community
fireworks event, a dog frightened by the noise and light can bite put-
ting itself and others in danger.
The best place for your pet during any fireworks display is at home
and inside where he/she cannot become lost or injured. If you lose
your pet during the July 4 festivities, be sure to check with local animal
control to find him.
Peoria County Animal Protection Services can help if you lose
your pet, or see an animal injured or who isn't receiving proper
care. Call PCAPS at 309-672-2440 for information or to report
animal cruelty or abuse.
This article is sponsored by Waggin Tails Doggy Daycare and
Resort, Goodfield, IL. Email waggintailsresort@gmail.com or call
309-642-9299 for your dogs boarding, doggy day care, and
grooming needs.
Photo credit: Ju-Lee/Thinkstock
Caring for Your Pet in Hot Weather
By Lauren Malmberg, Peoria County Animal Protection Services
healthy pets