Beat the heat!

Well, Quartzsite finally hit the triple digit temperatures that can drive away even the "bona fide" residents. "Monsoon season" is just around the corner (June 15th), and then refrigerated air conditioning units are necessary because “swamp coolers” won't be much help when the humidity climbs from the rain. 

The meteorologist out of Phoenix says "we're under an extreme heat advisory, so don't forget to water your pets". While that's certainly a well intentioned tip, it may not do much good. Just like you and I, pets don't like to drink warm water on a hot day. Water left sitting out in a dish can quickly warm up to room temperature, or if you live in Quartzsite, it's probably hot coming right out of the tap! Your dog or cat may avoid drinking until things cool down at night. Here in the desert, there can be several weeks where it never gets even close to cool...by the time your pet decides to drink, it may already be dehydrated. Try giving your pet ice cubes, or putting ice in their water bowl. 

Leave your pet at home in the air conditioning. If you must run errands or you are on a vacation with your dog, make sure that you carry a spare key for your vehicle. With a spare key, you can leave the vehicle running and the air conditioner on, while still being able to lock it.

Even in the moderate temperatures of the early morning, a car acts like a greenhouse, trapping the sun’s heat. Did you know that temperatures can potentially rise as much as 34 degrees a minute? For example, with the car windows slightly open the inside temperature can climb from 85 degrees to 102 degrees Fahrenheit in only ten minutes, and up to 120 degrees in only 20 minutes!

When a dog’s core temperature rises to 107-108 degrees they will quickly suffer irreparable brain damage or even death. Leaving your dog in a hot car is a sure way to bring on heat stroke. If concerned citizens, the police, or animal control believes that your dog is in distress, there’s a good chance your widow may be broken to retrieve the animal and you could face criminal charges.

Early signs of heatstroke include:

*rapid breathing

*dry mouth and nose

*rapid heart rate

*dull grey-pink or red gums

These symptoms can be followed within minutes by collapse, seizures, coma and death.

Even in the early stages of heat stroke, you could be fighting for your dog’s life. That’s because a dog’s core temperature can continue to rise even after you reduce the temperature in the environment.  Wet the dog down with cool (not cold!) water or wrap the dog in a wet towel and get to your veterinarian right away.