Hot weather tips to keep pets safe from Animal Care and Control of NYC

Summer is finally here and with it hot and humid weather that can be very dangerous to your pet. Animal Care & Control of New York City, the largest pet shelter in the Northeast, has developed a list of tips designed to keep your pet safe this summer.

Suggestions include:

• Never leave your pet alone in a parked car even with the windows open because your vehicle quickly becomes a furnace.
• Walk your pet on cooler surfaces to protect his feet from burning. If you can’t hold your hand long on the surface, it’s probably too hot for your pet as well.
• Don’t force your pet to exercise after a meal in hot weather. Always exercise in the cool of the early morning or evening.
• Keeps walks to a minimum. Your pet is much lower to the hot asphalt and his body temperature can quickly rise.
• If your pet shows signs of heat distress, cool him down slowly with a cool damp rag. Do not submerge him in water. Take your dog immediately to a veterinarian for follow up care.
• Be alert for coolant leaking from your vehicle. Animals are attracted to the sweet taste of coolant and ingesting just a small amount can cause an animal’s death. Consider using animal-friendly products that use propylene glycol rather than those containing ethylene glycol.
• Keep your current license and identification on your dog or cat and consider microchipping as a means of permanent identification.

The full list of hot weather tips can be found at www.nycacc.org.