6 tips for protecting your pets in Tucson this summer
- Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
As excessive heat warnings continue to be issued throughout southern Arizona, here are some tips to keep pets safe during Tucson summers.
Authorities get hundreds of calls every year about pets suffering from heat illness or dying because they were left outdoors, in a vehicle, or in another situation that put them at risk.
These heat-related tips for pet owners were shared by the Pima Animal Care Center:
Keep them hydrated
UpdatedProvide clean, cool drinking water in an easily accessible, spill-proof container.
Stay inside
UpdatedJust like us, pets prefer the AC. Keep pets indoors on hot days: there’s no better place to avoid the heat.
Never leave them in the car!
UpdatedDon’t leave a pet inside a vehicle: even with the windows cracked, the interior temperature can become deadly within just a couple of minutes.
Prevent paw burns
UpdatedWalk your pet in the early morning or in the evening when the asphalt has cooled down. Place the back of your hand on the ground for five seconds. If it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for your pet’s paws.
Provide shade
UpdatedEnsure your pet has all-day access to a shaded spot with good air flow. For dogs with longer coats, even shaded spots can be too hot in 100-degree weather.
Know the warning signs
UpdatedSome signs of heat-related illness include: being lethargic, not eating high-value treats like chicken, excessive panting or difficult breathing, excessive drooling, bright red gums, rapid pulse, muscle tremors, dry nose, nausea, and vomiting.
Pets that are overweight, old or are of a short-nose breed are more prone to overheat.
As featured on
Ursula Schwarz, who rode her bike while wearing a plastic cone, hopes to raise enough money to purchase 100 cones.
The summer heat will be shooting up into the 110s starting Monday.
More information
- Keep moving but stay safe during our desert summers
- Excessive heat watch to start Thursday in Tucson
- Southern Arizona wildlife photos that will make your skin crawl
- Cooling centers will be open in Tucson when it hits 110 degrees
- 33 photos of wildlife babies in Southern Arizona
- New effort launched to reduce border-crossers' deaths in Arizona heat
- Pool deck concerts to splash pads, here's where to keep cool in Tucson
- 14 tips to stay safe as bears become more active in Arizona
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