Pet Heat Safety in Orlando, FL

Pet Safety Tips

Your pet can enjoy the outdoors just as much as you as long as you consider their needs and plan your activities accordingly. Our recommendations are as follows:

• NEVER leave your pet in a parked car, not even in the shade with the windows open.
• When walking with your dog, don’t make them walk on hot asphalt—this can hurt their paw pads, and the heat wafting off the ground can raise their body temperature very quickly. If possible, find protective ‘booties’ to put on their feet (if they’ll allow it), or take your walks earlier and later in the day when it’s not quite so hot.
• If it’s hotter than 75 degrees, keep outside activity to a minimum.
• If your pet needs to be outside, make sure they have access to plenty of cool, fresh water (add ice cubes) and lots of shade.
• Breeds with flattened faces (English Bulldogs, Pugs, Boxers) are more susceptible to heatstroke because they cannot pant as effectively, and thus have more trouble cooling down. Keep them indoors in an air-conditioned space as often as possible.
• Do not leave your pet unattended near a swimming pool or other relatively deep body of water. Not all dogs can swim! Shallow wading pools are great for pets that want to cool down.
• If your home has insufficient air-conditioning, purchase a cooling bed for your pet, and make sure there is plenty of air circulation.