Officials say ensuring pets stay cool is key as the heat intensifies toward the end of this week.
Hot and humid conditions are expected, especially Thursday and Friday, when heat indexes potentially range from 95 to 100.
Dr. Michael Bailey, Past President of the American Veterinary Medical Association, says pets can be affected by the heat.
“If you see their panting go up, they are trying to get rid of that heat. You want to be sure they are in a cool environment so they can have that heat exchange even if it’s just having a fan nearby. Dogs and cats that have a very narrow, very short nose, you’ll want to be sure that they especially have good air flow. We want to be sure it’s cool for them because they’re going to have more reparatory difficulty than our long-nose pets.”
Having a ready supply of fresh water is also vital for furry friends.
“Remember, you need to have two cups of water, about 20 ounces of water for every 20 pounds of body weight, available to your pet every day. Plus, if your pet has been out in the hot we don’t want them to come in a gulp that water down.”
Some pets will still need to be active even on hot days, and Dr. Bailey recommends taking dogs on walks during the cooler parts of the day and on grassy areas since asphalt and concrete can be hot for paws.
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