How you can protect your pet from high temperatures
A cat lounges around at the CNY SPCA
/ photo by Jessica Cain
SYRACUSE -- People aren't the only ones dealing with the record-breaking heat. High temperatures can take a toll on animals as well.
CNY Central Chief Meteorologist Wayne Mahar reports that the temperature hit a record-breaking 100 degrees Thursday afternoon at Hancock Airport. The old record of 95 degrees had stood for 78 years.
At the CNY SPCA, workers received several calls Thursday about animals suffering from heat related illnesses and being left outdoors. Several dogs have even been dropped off with dehydration. Those dogs are being taken care of.
Kim Smith of the SPCA says pets should have somewhere cool to stay and have plenty of water.
"Pets should not be outside," says Smith. "There is no excuse for pets to be outside in this type of weather. They need to be in a house by air conditioning, by a fan, on a cool concrete floor."
Smith says pet owners should be careful taking animals for walks outside. The hot pavement can burn the pads of an animal's feet.
At the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, sprinklers have been turned on in the aviary. They put out a cold mist on the birds. Temperatures in the aviary are in the high 80s. Elsewhere in the zoo, workers are giving animals frozen treats to help them cool down. Afternoon demonstrations have been cancelled for Thursday. Many of the animals have been taking it easy.
"The animals are very much like people, and they don't always want to be as active when it's this hot out," says Tamara Singer at Rosamond Gifford Zoo. "A lot of times, you'll see them sitting in the shade or not running around like they normally would."
Here are some additonal tips to help care for your beloved pets in the heat:
- Brush off excess fur and keep their coats trimmed. Long-haired and black-colored pets are especially susceptible to heat illness.
- If you have to go out into the sun, protect their noses with sunscreen. Animal noses are very sensitive and are not protected by fur.
- Leave your pet at home, not in the car. A New Hartford man was arrested Monday after police said he left his dog in a car for nearly an hour on a 93 degree day.
Is your pet showing signs of the heat today? What are you doing to keep your animals cool? Leave a comment below to share your thoughts with us.
