The Heat is On....Don't forget about your best friend!

It's summer and at the moment there's no escaping the heat...it's everywhere!We all love spending the long, sunny days of summer outdoors with our furry companions, but being overeager in hot weather can spell danger. I mean can you even bear the thought of being outside in a fur coat right now?

But seriously, even the healthiest pets can suffer from dehydration, heat stroke and sunburn if overexposed to the heat and heat stroke can be fatal if not treated promptly. Take precautions to avoid your pet overheating and never, ever leave your pet in a parked car in the heat!!  If you suspect your pet is suffering from heat stroke, get help from your veterinarian immediately.

Pets can get dehydrated quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water when it's hot outdoors. Make sure your pets have a shady place to get out of the sun, be careful to not over-exercise them, and keep them indoors when it's extremely hot. 

Symptoms of  overheating in pets include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor or even collapsing. From overheating pets can experience seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomit along with an elevated body temperature of over 104 degrees. Animals with flat faces, like Pugs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heat stroke since they cannot pant as effectively and should be kept cool in air-conditioning as much as possible.

If you and your best friend are out and about on August 8 be sure to stop by to Ritas in East Islip for Yappy Hour at 4pm!  When you bring your dog to Yappy Hour you receive a FREE regular ice for you and a dog treat for your furever friend.