PETA offers tips to keep animals safe from extreme summer heat

​ANIMAL welfare group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) urges the public to help animals, especially dogs, beat the summer heat by keeping them away from hot places and watching their overall condition in relation to soaring temperatures.

If there's a dog showing any symptoms of heatstroke—including restlessness, heavy panting, vomiting, lethargy, lack of appetite, or loss of coordination—get it into the shade immediately. PETA said a symptomatic dog's body temperature can be lowered by offering water, applying a cold towel to the animal's head and chest, or immersing the dog in tepid (not ice-cold) water. As the dog cools off, bringing it to a veterinarian for further medical attention should be next.

There's never a better time to let your dogs play with water than during the summer days to let them cool off while having fun at the same time.

Keep dogs indoors, especially while the sun is up. Unlike humans, dogs can only sweat through their footpads and cool themselves by panting.

If dogs must be left outside, PETA urges dog owners to supply them with water and to make sure dogs stay in shady areas even as the sunshine's direction shifts as the day goes by. Even brief periods of direct exposure to the sun can have life-threatening consequences, PETA said.

Water is life and could save dogs left out in the sun far too long.

​Avoid putting on clothes on dogs as it makes them more vulnerable to heat stroke. Even in the coolest of temperatures in the Philippines, dogs are able to stay warm and do not need to wear clothing, said PETA.
 
Avoid hot cars. PETA strongly appeals to pet owners not to leave an animal in a parked car in warm weather, even for short periods with the windows slightly open. Dogs trapped inside parked cars can succumb to heat stroke within minutes, even if a car isn't parked in direct sunlight, the group said. On a 25-degree day, the temperature inside a parked car can rise to between 37 and 50 degrees in just minutes, and on a 32-degree day, interior temperatures can reach as high as 71 degrees in less than 10 minutes. 

PETA also warned against running or exercising dogs when the weather is hot. In very hot, humid weather, never exercise dogs by cycling while they try to keep up or by running them while you jog. Dogs will collapse before giving up, at which point, it may be too late to save them, said the group.

PETA also encourages the public to keep an eye on other animals living outdoors, even if they are not their pets. Leaving water for strays and giving them temporary shelter from the heat or calling humane can save the lives of affected animals. 

"Many animals suffer during Manila's long summers", says PETA Asia's Vice President Jason Baker. "You can help them weather the high temperatures by following our tips and volunteering with your local shelter or municipal pound."

For help in rescuing animals in distress, call PETA on (0) 999-888-7382.
For more information, please visit PETAAsia.com or PETA Asia's Facebook page.