06/05/2025
DID YOU KNOW⁉️
A dog’s core temperature is 101°F to 102.5°F. Anything above 105° is considered dangerous and above 108° can cause permanent damage to a dog’s body.
With the weather FINALLY starting to match the month we’re in, Shanel wanted to remind everyone to not leave your pets in the vehicle! Even a quick trip into the store can be dangerous to your pet.
Everyday before shift, I start up our cruiser to let it cool down (or warm up depending on the time of year) before we load up and leave for work. Over the weekend, on a sunny 75° day, the inside was a blistering 113° when I started it up. On days where it’s 90° outside, it’s easily 130° or higher. It does not take long for vehicles to reach these temperatures, especially when parked in as asphalt parking lot with no shade. Leaving a pet in a vehicle in this weather without access to water AND AC could very easily lead a person to felony charges.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion in animals, specifically dogs, are:
🐕 Restlessness
👅 Panting
💨 Increased respiratory rate
❤️ Increased heart rate
🤤 Excess salivation
Vomitting and diarrhea (we won’t use emojis for those 😅)
It’s not uncommon for a dog to exhibit some of these symtoms after being outside playing. Just be sure to bring the dog inside where it is cooler after play time and give it access to water. Monitor the dog to ensure the symptoms are going away as opposed to getting worse or not going away at all. The quickest ways to tell that a dog is starting to overheat is to check the inside of the ears and mouth. As they heat up, the ears and gums turn bright red. The gums will turn purple or blue the worse the condition gets. Obviously, if you are unfamiliar with the dog, don’t reach inside of it’s mouth.
We hope you all enjoy the coming summer months and be safe doing so!
