Keep your pets safe from the heat and July 4th holiday
With summer temperatures and activities, the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center is reminding pet owners to keep their pets safe in the heat and during the upcoming July 4th holiday.
Dogs and cats cool themselves differently than we do because they cannot sweat. Instead, they regulate their body heat through their mouths and tongues, which is a relatively inefficient method in extreme temperatures. That’s why your pets should remain indoors where it’s cool. Even a garage can get extremely hot, so pets should be kept in the house, preferably with the air conditioner set.
Never leave your pets in a parked car, not even for a minute. On a warm day, temperatures inside a vehicle can rise rapidly to dangerous levels. On an 85-degree day, for example, the temperature inside a car with the windows opened slightly can reach 102 degrees within 10 minutes. After 30 minutes, the temperature will reach 120 degrees. Your pet may suffer irreversible organ damage or even die.
In addition to keeping pets safe from the heat, here are some tips for keeping them safe and healthy on the Fourth of July:
- Keep them home - because fireworks are loud and can damage a dog's hearing, do not take your pet with you. Leave dogs indoors in a safe and secure room. Do not leave pets outside, even in a fenced yard as they could escape because they are so terrified by the noise.
- Keep them safe indoors and leave a TV or radio on to help block out the sound of fireworks and make sure all windows are closed.
- Keep proper ID on your pets and always have your dog’s tags on. Microchip dogs and cats. If they do escape from your home, animal services can get them back to you with proper identification.
- Human foods, 4th of July treats and alcoholic beverages can be harmful to your pet. Keep them in a place your pet cannot get to and do not allow others to give your pets human food as treats. Keep dog treats on hand instead.
- Exercise your dog early in the day before fireworks begin.
- Keep charcoal and glow sticks far from curious canines
For more information, visit cmvas.org.