Summer Heat Tips for cats and dogs

Summer sickness isn’t limited to humans — watch for these common hot weather pet problems.

Paw burns or cuts

What it looks like: Your pet will likely be limping or avoiding walking on the affected paw. The paw might be red, and the pad might be cracked, he said.

What to do: If the pad is torn, raw or bleeding, take your pet to its vet for a checkup, as this can lead to infection. Pad burns aren’t always serious, but they’re difficult to treat, as bandages typically need to be applied, and animals can’t easily be told not to lick or mess with the affected area.

What not to do: Don’t ignore limping or tenderness to your pet’s limbs. The symptoms are general and could point to a more serious condition, like a torn ligament.

Heat exhaustion or dehydration

What it looks like: Your pet will look lethargic. A dog will likely be sitting down with its tongue hanging out, and the end of the tongue might be starting to swell, he says. Severe symptoms include collapsing or the mucus membranes turning bright red.

What to do: Get your pet into a cool space with wind blowing on it. Getting a dog inside in the air conditioning, providing it with water and having a fan blow air on it. If the dog collapses or appears to be having trouble breathing, take it to a vet immediately.

What not to do: Avoid taking short-snouted dogs on walks when it’s too hot or humid outside.

Giardia or Parasite

What it looks like: Your pet will be vomiting or will have diarrhea.

What to do: Take your pet to see a vet or dropping off a stool sample with the vet. Animals can get parasites from drinking creek water, a common activity in the summer.

What not to do: Don’t write it off as a common sickness — some parasites can be passed from dogs to humans, so you might be putting the people in your home at risk.
Tips provided by the Falls Road Animal Hospital