WOLCOTT, Conn — The extreme heat not only poses a health risk to people, but also to four-legged friends. Pets can quickly become ill from it without the advantage of being able to take proactive measures themselves.
Pet owners in the Wolcott area were gearing up for the hike in temperatures and enjoying the calm before the storm at the Wolcott dog park.
"We bring her down here with multiple water bottles, we have a couple behind you that are ready to go at all times,“ said Douglas Dorbuck of Bristol, “and we give her ice cubes which she does enjoy and it helps to keep her cool also.”
Paula Dorbuck of Bristol added, “I do have a cooling blanket too so if she gets really hot she can lay on top of that.”
Drinking plenty of water and staying cool will be key to keeping pets safe during the first-of-the season heat wave.
“I brought my dog to my parents’ house to run around in the yard. Tomorrow I’ll only be able to bring him out in the morning or at dusk,” said Morgan Gigliotti of Wolcott.
Gigliotti said her dog Scout is still a puppy, which means he stays active. Exercise in extreme heat, however can pose the same kinds of health risks for dogs as humans including dehydration and heat stroke.
To keep your pet healthy, the American Red Cross recommends trimming longer hair, brushing cats more than usual, avoiding being outside during the hottest times of day, never leaving pets inside vehicles and keeping pets hydrated.
“It’s easy for humans to know their limits but dogs can’t really talk to us, so you have to look for their signs, know their behaviors, when they’re acting off and just be proactive,” said Gigliotti.
Signs of heat stroke to look for include heavy panting, a brick-red gum color, fast pulse rate and difficulty getting up. If anyone notices these behaviors, they should bring their pet to the vet as soon as possible.
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