One Tired Pug
The photos above are cell phone photos of my pug Zoey...before and AFTER a walk in this week's hot weather!
Zoey is a healthy girl, about 2 years old, but this weather just sucks the life out of her. Pugs have an even harder time in the hot weather than other dogs, because they are brachycephalic...that is, flat-faced. Short- or flat-faced breeds of dogs and cats can have difficulty breathing in hot, humid weather. I once read an unfortunate letter from a woman who left for work one morning during a heatwave, forgetting to let her pug and her labrador back in the house. When she returned at lunchtime, just a few hours later, the lab was fine- but the pug had died of heat stroke in the backyard.
Whether your pet has a long snout or not, though, you have to take special care in hot weather like this. Chief Roy Gross of the Suffolk SPCA says to be alert for signs of heat stress, like heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid pulse, unsteadiness, lack of coordination , vomiting or a deep red or purple tongue. If your pet becomes overheated, you must lower her body temperature immediately. Move your pet into the shade and apply cool (not cold) water all over her body to gradually lower her temperature. Apply ice packs or cool towels to your pet's head, neck and chest only. Let your pet drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes. Finally, take your pet directly to a veterinarian-it could save her life.
And please NEVER leave your pet in a locked car in this heat! The temperature inside a parked car can reach dangerous levels of 120° in just a matter of minutes. Just 15 minutes in a hot car can be a matter of life or death.
The photos above are cell phone photos of my pug Zoey...before and AFTER a walk in this week's hot weather!
Zoey is a healthy girl, about 2 years old, but this weather just sucks the life out of her. Pugs have an even harder time in the hot weather than other dogs, because they are brachycephalic...that is, flat-faced. Short- or flat-faced breeds of dogs and cats can have difficulty breathing in hot, humid weather. I once read an unfortunate letter from a woman who left for work one morning during a heatwave, forgetting to let her pug and her labrador back in the house. When she returned at lunchtime, just a few hours later, the lab was fine- but the pug had died of heat stroke in the backyard.
Whether your pet has a long snout or not, though, you have to take special care in hot weather like this. Chief Roy Gross of the Suffolk SPCA says to be alert for signs of heat stress, like heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid pulse, unsteadiness, lack of coordination , vomiting or a deep red or purple tongue. If your pet becomes overheated, you must lower her body temperature immediately. Move your pet into the shade and apply cool (not cold) water all over her body to gradually lower her temperature. Apply ice packs or cool towels to your pet's head, neck and chest only. Let your pet drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes. Finally, take your pet directly to a veterinarian-it could save her life.
And please NEVER leave your pet in a locked car in this heat! The temperature inside a parked car can reach dangerous levels of 120° in just a matter of minutes. Just 15 minutes in a hot car can be a matter of life or death.
