Remember to Protect Your Pet From the Heat

Thursday, July 08, 2010 01:09 PM

Prince George, B.C.- As the temperature climbs, the SPCA is issuing a reminder to pet owners, Be kind — leave the dog behind.

The BC SPCA’s North Cariboo Branch is ramping up efforts to raise awareness about the danger and potentially fatal consequences of leaving a dog inside a hot car.

( at right, the German Shepherd panting inside a hot car was rescued before suffering any serious health effects)

“People think they’re doing their pet a favour by bringing them along to run an errand, but the reality is the temperature inside a parked car at this time of year — even one that’s in the shade can climb well about 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit),” says Ann Gough, manager of the BC SPCA North Cariboo Branch.

Dogs can withstand high temperatures for only a very short time — usually just 10 minutes — before suffering irreparable brain damage or death.

Every year, SPCA cruelty officers respond to about 500 complaints about dogs in hot cars around the province. This doesn’t include complaints made to police in areas where the SPCA doesn’t have a local presence.

If you see a dog languishing in a hot car, call the SPCA at 250-562-5511or the RCMP at 561-3300. Before the authorities arrive, members of the public can help prevent a tragedy by attempting to find the animal’s guardian. If the car is in a mall or grocery store parking lot, for example, ask to have the owner paged over the building’s PA system. If a window on the vehicle is cracked open, try to increase the airflow inside by fanning the pet with a portable fan.

In addition to not leaving pets in the car at this time of year, guardians should use caution when exercising their pets under the sweltering summer sun.

"A lot of dogs will run and play to the point of exhaustion, and it's the guardian's responsibility to make sure that doesn't happen," says Gough.

Gough also cautions against cycling with your dog, and if you run with your dog, try to run early in the morning or later in the evening when the sun is lower in the sky. Also, try to stay away from asphalt because it can burn your dog's foot pads.

Signs of heatstroke in pets:

Exaggerated panting (or the sudden stopping of panting)
Rapid or erratic pulse
Salivation
Weakness and muscle tremors
Lack of coordination
Convulsions or vomiting
Collapse.

If your dog shows symptoms of heatstroke, you should:

Immediately move the animal to a cool, shady place
Wet the dog with cool water
Fan vigorously to promote evaporation. Do not apply ice, which constricts blood flow
Allow the dog to drink some cool water
Take the dog to a veterinarian.

Previous Story - Next Story

Email |

Print |

Facebook |

Twitter |

Digg |

Del.icio.us

Posted on Thursday, July 08, 2010 01:09 PM in News by 250 News

Return to Home

Comments

Posted by: IMO on July 8 2010 2:45 PM

I can not for the life of me understand why people need to be told this stuff. If it saves even one animal then "hats off" to the SPCA for the information.

If you are not going to love an animal then dont get a pet. They are our friends and depend on us to look after them.

LOVE YOUR PET!

Posted by: Loki on July 8 2010 4:14 PM

"If you are not going to love an animal then don't get a pet. "

Sadly, many pet owners only want an accessory or the "right" to call themselves pet owner. Personally I think there are too many pets in the city. I know it is important for children to be exposed to living creatures and it is psychologically healthy to be around animals. Having a 100 pound or more dog living in a basement suite or apartment is disgustingly selfish. Or the person that has 10 cats, anything more than 2 is obscene. How about the elderly couple with bird cages everywhere?

And for god's sake, your pet does not have to go to town with you every time.

Posted by: duffer on July 8 2010 4:27 PM

Pets should not be allowed loose in any vehicle. They are a worse distraction than talking on a cell phone, yet there is no law against it. And yes I do have a cell phone, but it is turned off when I am driving.

Posted by: supertech on July 8 2010 5:09 PM

I'm with IMO. Stop reminding us that there are idiots who own pets. We can't do anything about it and your silly reminders will change nothing. Stop wasting your time writing about it and go volunteer with the SPCA if it bothers you.

Posted by: highlanderpg on July 8 2010 7:16 PM

its sad that no matter hoe much people try to teach the others who just don't get it, its proof positive that the process of natural selection just isn't working anymore, there are those out there that you can try to teach with crayons and they still wouldn't get it, they think we're all talking about other people, nope buddy (or lady) we're talking about you.

If none of your freinds or relatives are doing anything wrong or weird, its you, sorry to say ,don't mean to hurt your feelings, but when you look in the mirror and you have an unanswerable question in your eyes, its you and no we don't know why your here either.

But we get to live with people like you no matter what, so do us all a favour, try to get with the program and let us enjoy some pertinent news for awhile.

Thanks.

Posted by: jakeadoo on July 8 2010 9:27 PM

I would like to start off by,saying that I'm sorry but I don't understand your post highlanderpg.I'm not quite sure of what you were trying to say.From my own perspective with distressed animals,I have and will bend over backwards to help that animal.However,on more than one occasion,either my wife or myself,has called either the pound or the SPCA,about animals in less than ideal circumstances,and the best either organization did during those instances was have us deal with the situation or they would place a message on the door for the homeowner.I actually took a bylaw officer through my side of the fence by knocking the boards off the fence to get to the distressed animal,and I was left to deal with the situation.So to all the city personel,next time an animal is in distress,don't blame me for kicking the owner's ass who is abusing the animal.