Please note that some posts contains affiliate links & I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links Find out More

Hot Weather Safety for Dogs & Cats: A Roundup

by | Jun 9, 2023 | Cat Behavior & Care, Dog Training & Care | 0 comments

Here we go again…Every summer, earlier and earlier, we deal with hot weather concerns. With the temperatures rising, and the Texas power grid in a precarious situation, please prioritize hot weather safety for dogs and cats as well as yourself. We’ve already had our upstairs air conditioner go out. And what’s uncomfortable for people could become downright dangerous or deadly for pets. I write about hot weather safety for pets each year. This time, I figured a roundup of articles offered the best resource to keep hot dogs chilly, and cool cats safe.

Protect pets from too much sun.

Pets And Sunburn

Yes, dogs and cats can suffer from sunburn. While fur protects most of the body, the thinly furred regions risk injury. Tips of the ears, bridge of the nose, and the tummy (for dogs who sunbathe on their back) tend to suffer the most injury. Pets like Sphynx cats and the Xolo dogs or other “hairless” breeds post the highest risk. Learn more about pets and sunburn, and what you can do to protect your pets from sunburn here.

Panting cools dogs–a panting cat signals dangerous overheating!

Pets And Heatstroke

When your dog or cat can’t cool off, heatstroke results. A pets’ normal body temperature ranges between 99-102.5 degrees F. Dogs cool off through panting, while cats groom themselves so the saliva evaporates off the fur to cool them. But when the outside temperature equals or exceeds the pet body temperature, these functions don’t work and your dog and cat quickly overheat. Learn more about pets and heatstroke, and how to protect your cats and dogs–and save lives with pet first aid–in this post about heatstroke.

Dog paw

Paws are not as tough as you’d think.

Pet Dehydration

When the temperature rises, and pets don’t have enough fresh water to drink, they can become dehydrated very easily. Learn about the causes, symptoms, and first aid tips for pet dehydration here.  And for fun, here’s a post on the mechanics of how pets drink.

Pad Burns, Water Intoxication, and More!

If the pavement burns YOUR bare feet, imagine what it feels like to your dog or cat paws. Even bare packed dirt, or the sand on the beach, can be dangerous during high temperatures.

Of course, we want to keep water always available to our pets during hot weather. Cats tend to not drink enough water. But dogs may drink too much water, especially after excercise in hot weather. Learn more about these hot weather dangers in this blog post.

Safe Hot Weather Games

So how do you keep your play-happy dogs and cats from over-doing in the heat? Refer to these options for safe hot weather games, both inside the house and outside.

 

YouTube Button

I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book giveaways and appearances related to my September Day pet-centric THRILLERS WITH BITE!

Amy Shojai, CABC is a certified cat & dog behavior consultant, a consultant to the pet industry, and the award-winning author of 35+ pet-centric books and Thrillers with Bite! Oh, and she loves bling!

 

0 Comments

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Hot Weather Games for Pets: Keeping Cats & Dogs Cool in Hot WeatherAMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - […] Yikes! It’s hot-hot-hot here in Texas. We’re not yet in triple digits but likely to get there sooner or…
  2. Amy Shojai'sHeatstroke Dangers: Pet First Aid for Hot Weather BlogAMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - […] Hot weather dangers go beyond heatstroke dangers, though. Read about other reasons and ways to keep hot dogs and…
  3. Keeping Hot Dogs & Cats Cool: Hot Weather Pet SafetyAMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - […] Learn more about hot weather safety in this roundup post here. […]
  4. Pet Sunburn: Learn About Sunburn Pain and Solar DermatitisAMY SHOJAI'S Bling, Bitches & Blood - […] Learn more about hot weather safety in this roundup post here. […]

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories:

Recent Posts

Update on Cyprus Cats: New FIP Strain Identified

This past summer I reported on the apparent FIP outbreak among cats on the island of Cyprus. As thousands of cats quickly sickened and died from signs of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), experts puzzled over why. While the feline-specific illness tragically kills most infected cats (if not given expensive hard-to-access treatment), pockets of “outbreaks” had previously been limited to handfuls of cats in cattery or shelter population.

But in Cyprus, things changed. Here’s the update…stranger than fiction, but true.

How To Give Pets As Gifts

Giving pets as gifts prompts discussions every time the subject comes up. Most recently, we got our “gift puppy” and “gift kitten” when they adopted us, and we’re so glad Karma-Kat and Shadow-Pup are part of our holidays. But for many folks, this year means a new puppy or new kitten for Christmas. Learn how to gift pets–and please share your experiences in the comments!

The professionals used to say that the holidays were a TERRIBLE time to get a new pet–that impulse adoptions could leave the cat or dog without a home after the cute-holiday-thrills wore off. More recently, though, the ASPCA conducted some surveys and discovered that when done properly, these adoptions can be lasting, loving adoptions. So I had to re-think my advice.

Holidays tend to be hectic times when normal routines go out the window. Whether a baby, adult, or senior rescue cat or dog, new animals need the stability of knowing what to expect. In fact, some holiday schedules may allow you to be home more during this time to help the new kitty or pooch adjust.

Holiday pets take more work, true. But just think: you’re not only giving the pet to a person—you’re giving a special human to a waiting cat or dog, a fur-kid hungry for a loving, permanent home. Happy holidays, indeed!

Mystery Canine Respiratory Disease? What We Know

Each fall and winter heralds a rise in respiratory illnesses in people–and also in dogs. Like humans, dogs can contract a number of hacking, wheezing, coughing, yucky illnesses that make them feel bad. Canine respiratory diseases get lumped together as canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC). These are a constellation of different illnesses resulting from viral, fungal, or bacterial infections.

One of the most common, kennel cough, spreads easily from dog to dog. It gets its name because dogs housed closely together in kennels, boarding facilities, shelters, and similar places provide the perfect transmission opportunity. But recently, an apparent increase in dog respiratory disease has owners, and many vets concerned.

13 Pet Holiday Dangers to Avoid: How to Keep Cats & Dogs Safe

I write about pet holiday dangers every year. This listicle (and a fun infographic at the bottom) offers more than a dozen problems. I’ve included links to more detailed information for those wanting a deeper dive on all the must-knows for pet holiday safety!

Merry Cat-Mas & Doggy Ho-Ho-Ho! Here’s How to Create a Tree for the Pets

Have you decked the halls yet with your howl-iday decor? What do the pets think? Have they joined in the spirit of ho-ho-ho and wreaked havoc? Or do they ignore the festivities?

The Christmas tree might as well be an early holiday gift to your cats and dogs. Pets can’t resist the urge to sniff, claw, water—and scale the branches to reach the highest possible perch. Don’t blame your cat or dog. It’s normal for cats to compete for the top spot (literally and figuratively) to secure their place in kitty society, and dogs may want to “mark” the convenient indoor doggy signpost.

Protect your precious memories by pet-proofing to prevent breakage (yes, this happened to me!) And give your pets something “legal” to enjoy. Here’s how to create pet safe holiday fun for cats and dogs.

Playing Around…in SISTER ACT Musical!

From time to time, I’m blessed to participate in the local community theater productions. Sometimes, that means playing cello or keyboard in the loft, and other times, onstage. This month, I’m “playing around” as Sister Mary Martin-of-Tours, a nun in SISTER ACT musical. We open Friday December 1 and run three weekends (Thursday-Sunday matinee) through December 17th.

Cat Books Sale: “When you get a cat, there should be 4 requirements by law:

I was born to love pets & spread JOY! My books bring smiles, save lives, and reduce vet bills. So I put ALL MY CAT BOOKS ON SALE…cuz maybe you’ll want to “adopt” more of my 35+ award-winning pet books or share the purr-fect love with other pet lovers.

You can get ’em for full price on Amazon, BUT…

Dog Books Sale: “One of the best I have read…”

I was born to love pets & spread JOY! My books bring smiles, save lives, and reduce vet bills. So I put ALL MY DOG BOOKS ON SALE…cuz maybe you’ll want to “adopt” more of my 35+ award-winning pet books or share the purr-fect love with other pet lovers.

You can get ’em for full price on Amazon, BUT…

Counting Thanksgiving Blessings, the Pet Writer Way in 2023

Time for my annual Count My Blessings post. The past year has meant change, change, and more change, and that’s good and also challenging. But some things never change…I’m thankful to you—yes, those who read this blog, the cat book lovers, and the dog book lovers, and folks who have “adopted” my thriller series. And those who offered awesome applause and support any of the other venues mentioned…

7 Tips How to Prepare Cats, Dogs, and People for Holiday Visits

How to Prepare Cats, Dogs, and People for Holiday Visits

Holiday celebrations include visiting family and friends. It also means keeping pets safe during the holidays. Since we consider cats and dogs part of the family, pet holiday visits require special preparations. Changes to routine can increase fear, anxiety, and stress in everyone, and especially our pets. Hitting the road also raises stress levels, so unless your pets adore car travel, prepare with advice in this article. Here are some tips for reducing the angst once you arrive, so that everyone enjoys family pet holiday visits.

Visit Amy's Website

Amy Shojai CACB is an award winning author.  You can find all her publications and book her to speak via her website. 

On Demand Writer Coaching

AmyShojai.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com http://amazon.com/.

Awards

Memberships