Keep Pets Safe During Excessive Heat: Gloucester County Officials

Gloucester County officials remind pet owners that hot weather can be dangerous for animals as well as humans. An Excessive Heat Warning is in effect for Gloucester County from 8 a.m. on Wednesday, July 17, through 10 p.m. on Sunday, July 21.

“Keep your pets cool during this week's heat,” Gloucester County Freeholder Director Robert M. Damminger said. “Hot weather isn't just uncomfortable for animals, it can be fatal. Dogs and cats can't provide their own ventilation or water. They can't get out of a hot car or airless room. It's all up to people.”

“Dogs should never be left in a vehicle,” Freeholder Deputy Director Frank J. DiMarco, liaison to the Gloucester County Animal Shelter, said. “Even if the outside temperature is mild rather than hot, the sun shining in through glass and beating on metal can be too much for animals.”

Heat stroke is a real threat to animals, and can be fatal. Pets that have already suffered heat stroke once are more susceptible, as are animals that are very young or very old, have health problems, or are overweight.

Signs of heat stroke include panting, staring or stupor, breathing difficulty, an anxious expression, refusal to obey, warm dry skin, fever, rapid heartbeat, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and collapse.

“People should contact their veterinarian immediately if they see these signs in their pets,” DiMarco said.

The Gloucester County Animal Shelter issued these tips for keeping pets cool and safe:
Never leave an animal in a parked vehicle, even for a few minutes. The temperature in a parked car may hit 120 degrees within minutes, so just a 10-minute stop may be dangerous. Opening the windows a few inches doesn't provide enough cooling. If you're running errands, leave your dog home -- in a cool basement, or in a shaded yard with a wading pool. If you're traveling, make your pit stops at places where your pet can get out of the vehicle.

Provide fresh, cool drinking water at all times -- including in your vehicle when you're traveling.

Outdoor kennels must be well-ventilated and shaded, with water in bowls that will not tip.

Don't exercise pets on hot days or warm, humid nights.

Groom your pet. Clip long coats to about an inch -- shorter clips or shaving can leave dogs vulnerable to sunburn. Brush cats daily in hot weather, when they shed profusely, to help keep them comfortable by preventing hairballs.