Seattle Humane has tips to help pets stay safe during extreme heat

The extreme high temperatures this week are tough enough for people, but even more so for our four-legged friends covered in fur coats. How do we keep our pets safe during these hot days?

Luckily, even if you are part of the majority of Washingtonians who do not have air conditioning, there are still steps you can take to help ensure comfort for your cat or dog.

Brandon Macz, PR and social media specialist at Seattle Humane, advised people without AC to set up a designated room for a DIY cooling center.

Seattle hits 107, setting record for hottest day

“If you don’t have an air conditioner, we recommend setting up cooling stations, shady spots with a fan blowing,” Macz said, adding, “We also recommend putting a bowl of ice behind a fan, that will help blow more cool air around. You really want to circulate as much cold air as you can.”

You can have your dog or cat roll over onto or lay on ice packs. Put cool, wet cloths under their armpits or between their back legs to soothe them.

When it comes to walking your pooch, it’s important not to take that walk during the day when the sun’s rays are shining directly onto pavement, but rather to walk late at night or first thing at daybreak. The sunshine causes the sidewalks and streets to get so hot that a dog’s feet can be burned.

“[When it’s] 87 degrees outside, the asphalt temperature can reach 143 degrees,” Macz explained, adding, “At 125 degrees, skin disruption can happen within 60 seconds. ”

If you must walk your dog during daylight hours, he suggested walking on a trail or grass, such as in a yard or a park, so that you can bypass the pavement. You can also get little shoes or pads for your dog’s paws to protect them from the hot ground.

If you and your dog are traveling by wheels instead, make sure to never, ever leave Fluffy or Fido in the car — even if you are only running into a grocery store for five minutes, and even if you leave the windows cracked.

“The internal temperatures of a vehicle can get very hot,” Macz warned. “Even at 70 degrees, after 10 minutes, the car will reach about 89 degrees, and after 30 minutes, 104 degrees. Your pets already run hotter than people anyway, and they have a harder time regulating their body temperature.”

That means that with the outside temperature starting at 100 or above, a locked car can be deadly within minutes.

If you do see a pet locked in a car that looks like it’s in distress or has been in there several minutes, let management at the business you’re parked at know. You should call 911 or your local animal control department, and stay with the pet until help arrives.

“Be sure to stay around and monitor the dog to make sure their signs don’t get any worse,” Macz advised.

Symptoms of heat stroke to watch out for, whether in a dog in a locked car or in your cat at your non-air-conditioned home, include heavy panting, drooling, lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea. If you notice these symptoms in your pet, you should call your vet or your nearest pet emergency center right away. In the meantime, get their body temperature down as quickly as possible with ice packs, wet towels, and fans.

To learn more about how to keep your pets cool and safe, visit Seattle Humane’s website.

Follow @NicoleKIROFM