During the summertime in Tucson, it is incredibly important to ensure that your pet always has access to cool spaces and fresh water. Ideally, pets should spend most of their time indoors when temperatures outside reach over 100 degrees each day. Additionally, you should know the signs of common health issues that pets experience during the summer.
Heatstroke
Heatstroke occurs when the body’s core temperature is too high. With an elevated core temperature, pets may experience damage to their kidneys, cardiovascular systems, and brains. Any type of pet can experience heatstroke, and the symptoms look similar in cats, dogs, reptiles, and rabbits. They include:
- Exhaustion
- Confusion and disorientation
- Loss of appetite
- Rapid, open-mouthed breathing
- Stumbling and muscle weakness
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Hot or red ears (in rabbits)
- Darkening of skin (in reptiles)
If you notice any of these signs, take immediate action to cool down your pet and then head to the nearest veterinary hospital right away for treatment. Do not submerge your pet in water or ice to try and cool them off. Instead, move them to an air conditioned area, offer them water to drink, and wet their paws and bellies with a cool, damp cloth. Reptiles may be misted with lukewarm water.
Dehydration
It can be difficult to ensure that your pet is drinking enough water. Generally, pets will regulate their hydration as long as they have access to clean, fresh water, but some pets may still not drink enough. Senior pets, for example, may become more easily dehydrated. You can supplement their food with additional water by adding some fresh fruits and veggies, a splash of water to their kibble, or wet canned food. If you have a picky cat that doesn’t like to drink water, put out a few water bowls around the house and consider a cat water fountain, which may encourage your cat to drink more often.
Toxic Plants
Many plants are in bloom in Tucson during the summer, and they can look like tasty snacks to curious pets. However, a wide variety of common desert plants and garden plants are toxic to pets, so it is important to monitor pets when they spend time outdoors during the summer. Aloe vera, foxglove, oleander, lilies, and desert rose are all toxic to pets.
Scorched Paws
For cats, rabbits, and dogs that spend time outside, you should ensure that they have plenty of shaded areas where they can roam. Pavement, gravel, and asphalt can heat up rapidly during the summer, and pets may get burns on their paws if they walk around unprotected.
Tucson Veterinary Urgent Care is your resource for immediate veterinary care when your pet needs it most. We are open 7 days a week from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., and walk-ins are welcome. We offer a wide range of urgent care services for pets, including care for dehydration and heat stroke. Contact us to check in online for your visit.
