Protect the Lives of Your Pets by Keeping Them Cool this Summer

85 degrees seems like an innocuous enough summer temperature to us humans. However, when temperatures climb this high your pets are in real danger.

Thousands of pets die of heat stroke every year. These deaths are made all the more tragic because they are completely preventable.

Pets can't speak for themselves and depend on us to meet their needs. Animals also have different needs from humans. This means that even a loving pet owner can sometimes make dangerous mistakes simply by failing to think about certain realities or by assuming that animals are heartier than they really are.

Here's what you need to know to keep your pet safe.

Keeping Pets Cool

Let's start with the big no-no. Don't leave your pets alone in a parked car -- ever! On an 85 degree day the internal temperature in that big metal box will reach 160 degrees in just 10 minutes. Your dog could be dead long before then, however, since when a dog's body temperature reaches 107 degrees he already has a potentially fatal case of heat stroke. Though people carry their cats in cars less often, cats are even more vulnerable. Their body temperatures reach dangerous levels at 105 degrees.

Cracking the windows does not help. It's better to keep your pets indoors when you're going out if you even suspect you'll need to leave your ptes alone in a parked car for even a minute.

However, cars aren't the only culprit of pet heat stroke. Some pets get heat stroke in their own back yards.

Never leave an unsupervised pet tied up or penned up in the yard. You need to be aware of your pet's condition when he's outside, even if you think you've provided him with enough water and shade. And, of course, you should make sure your pets do have water and shade any time you let them out.

Avoid walking your dogs during the heat of the day (between 10 am and 2 pm). This will help you ensure that exercise time is safe. Try to walk your pet over grass if at all possible, since a pet's paws burn quickly when they touch hot asphalt. 

Finally, if your pet has long hair you can help out by giving him a trim. Do not ever shave an animal, however. It seems counterintuitive, but an animal's fur actually serves as a part of his body's cooling system.

Recognizing the Sings of Heat Stroke

Being able to recognize the signs of heat stroke is another important way to protect your pet, since sometimes things happen even when you are being really careful.

If your dog is panting but you don't see any saliva dripping from his tongue, he could be in real trouble. You should also look for the following signs:

• Your pet seems listless or unresponsive
• Your pet is staggering or walking oddly
• Your pet's mucus membranes turn a dark, feverish red color
• Your pet's gums are spotted or blue
• Your pet starts vomiting or has the runs

If you see any of these symptoms you need to wet your pet down with cool tap water right away. Try to get your pet to take a drink, then get your four legged friend to the vet right away -- you have a medical emergency on your hands!

Don't use ice. You can actually trigger the body's heating mechanism if you use ice, which will make your pet's internal temperature climb even higher.

Remember, heat stroke can cause brain damage or death in your beloved pets. Keep your summer happy by paying close attention to the heat and the effect that it's having on your furry friends.