I was shocked it didn't hit triple digits over the weekend, but it certainly felt like it with the humidty. It seems Central Texas is skipping Spring and moving right into Summer heat! Austin Pets Alive has excellent tips to keep your furbaby safe when it's HOT! Please share!
1. Before going for a walk, put your hand on the ground. If it's too HOT for you, it's too HOT for your pet.
2. Always have plenty of drinking water handy. A safe place to swim, and dip in the water to cool off is a winner too!
3. Watch out for the signs of your furbaby overheating. Bloodshot eyes and tongue hanging way off to the side are two big indicators. Get them water ASAP, and find somewhere cool to go!
4.DO NOT LEAVE YOUR FURBABY IN THE CAR! NOT EVEN FOR A SHORT TIME! On a 95 degree day, within 30 minutes, the car is 129 DEGREES! It just gets hotter in the Central Texas heat! Don't leave your furbaby in the car is just a good tip to follow all the time, no matter the temperature.
5. If it's just TOO HOT OUTSIDE, wait to take a longer stroll in the evening. Or get a longer walk in during the early morning hours.
I went to the San Marcos outlet during the weekend with honey Ted and Rudy Roo. We made sure Rudy's feet weren't getting too hot. We took lots of stops to drink water, and most of the stores let us take him inside to keep cool. Shih Tzus and other smaller compact furbabies have a tendency to get overheated and dehydrated quicker.
When it's HOT OUT everyone needs to have water handy, take lots of breaks and be prepared to find shade or go inside where you can cool off. Pack sunscreen and use it too. Take care of each other, while having fun! Big Hugs! - Rudy Roo, honey Ted & Heather