Vicki
Administrator
Leave your dogs home for summer
By LINDSEY GEMME and DAWN GEMME
Published: Wednesday, June 16, 2010 6:10 AM MST
Believe it or not, a dog is not an adequate alarm system for your car when you’re out and about, whether it’s only for a few minutes while you run an errand, or go for an hour for dinner at Chili’s this summer.
But imagine you’re trapped inside a parked car in 100-plus degree heat. The windows are only open a crack. The temperature is rising, and you have no water. On top of all this, imagine you’re wearing a thick coat and that you have no idea when you’ll be able to get out of the car.
Many people love their dogs and want to take them with them wherever they go. You may think that opening a window a little while you make a 15-minute run into a store will be enough. But when the mercury rises, it’s safest to leave your beloved pet at home. A dog left in a car on a hot Arizona day can collapse from heatstroke in just 15 minutes.
Even on a 78-degree day, a car parked in the sun can reach 160 degrees in minutes. And opening windows or parking in the shade wonÃt prevent a dog from getting overheated. The heat is especially hard on dogs, because they can only cool themselves by panting and by sweating through their paws. With only hot air to breathe, dogs and other animals can suffer irreparable brain damage and even die of heatstroke.
Protect your dog by taking the following precautions:
Don’t take a chance–leave your dog at home on warm days. Even just a quick trip to the store can be deadly.
Learn the signs of heat exhaustion: restlessness, excessive thirst, heavy panting, lethargy, lack of appetite, dark tongue, rapid pulse, fever, vomiting, glazed eyes, dizziness, or lack of coordination. If your dog shows any of these symptoms, get him or her to shade or air conditioning right away. Lower body temperature gradually by providing water to drink, applying a cold towel or ice pack to the head, neck, and chest, or immersing your dog in cool (not cold) water.
If you see a dog in danger, take down the car’s color, model, make, and license plate number and have the owner paged inside the store. Or if you cannot locate the owner, call the local humane authorities or police. They can unlock the car and get the dog out.
http://www.trivalleycentral.com/art...ndependent/news/doc4c17d13053dd8324127842.txt
By LINDSEY GEMME and DAWN GEMME
Published: Wednesday, June 16, 2010 6:10 AM MST
Believe it or not, a dog is not an adequate alarm system for your car when you’re out and about, whether it’s only for a few minutes while you run an errand, or go for an hour for dinner at Chili’s this summer.
But imagine you’re trapped inside a parked car in 100-plus degree heat. The windows are only open a crack. The temperature is rising, and you have no water. On top of all this, imagine you’re wearing a thick coat and that you have no idea when you’ll be able to get out of the car.
Many people love their dogs and want to take them with them wherever they go. You may think that opening a window a little while you make a 15-minute run into a store will be enough. But when the mercury rises, it’s safest to leave your beloved pet at home. A dog left in a car on a hot Arizona day can collapse from heatstroke in just 15 minutes.
Even on a 78-degree day, a car parked in the sun can reach 160 degrees in minutes. And opening windows or parking in the shade wonÃt prevent a dog from getting overheated. The heat is especially hard on dogs, because they can only cool themselves by panting and by sweating through their paws. With only hot air to breathe, dogs and other animals can suffer irreparable brain damage and even die of heatstroke.
Protect your dog by taking the following precautions:
Don’t take a chance–leave your dog at home on warm days. Even just a quick trip to the store can be deadly.
Learn the signs of heat exhaustion: restlessness, excessive thirst, heavy panting, lethargy, lack of appetite, dark tongue, rapid pulse, fever, vomiting, glazed eyes, dizziness, or lack of coordination. If your dog shows any of these symptoms, get him or her to shade or air conditioning right away. Lower body temperature gradually by providing water to drink, applying a cold towel or ice pack to the head, neck, and chest, or immersing your dog in cool (not cold) water.
If you see a dog in danger, take down the car’s color, model, make, and license plate number and have the owner paged inside the store. Or if you cannot locate the owner, call the local humane authorities or police. They can unlock the car and get the dog out.
http://www.trivalleycentral.com/art...ndependent/news/doc4c17d13053dd8324127842.txt
