FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LA Animal Services Media Contacts:
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LA Animal Services Hot Weather Pet Safety Tips |
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With Temperatures Rising, LA Animal Services Offers Tips
To Keep Pets Cool
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Los Angeles, June 2, 2021 – When it’s too hot for you, it’s even hotter for your four-legged friends. As Southern California starts to see warmer weather, Los Angeles Animal Services would like to remind you that too much heat can be extremely dangerous or even fatal for companion animals.
Keep in mind that dogs and cats try to cool themselves by panting or rapid breathing and do not sweat through their skin.
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Hot Weather Tips for Cats and Dogs:
- Never leave your pet alone inside a vehicle. If your pet cannot go inside at every stop with you, they are safer at home on hot days. A car can overheat even when the window has been opened slightly. Even if the temperature isn’t too hot outside, your car can get up to 20 degrees warmer. Always check to make sure that dogs are welcome where you are going, otherwise leave them at home.
- Give your pet extra water. Always make sure that your dog or cat has plenty of fresh water to drink. A bucket that holds a gallon or more of water will stay cooler much longer than water in a shallow pan. If your dog enjoys ice cubes as a treat, add them to the bowl!
- Avoid hot ground surfaces. While walking your dog outdoors, pay particular attention to the pavement, sidewalks, or sand. Check the temperature with your hand. If it’s too hot to touch, then it’s too hot for your dog’s paws. If it’s 92 degrees outside, concrete or asphalt can reach up to 130 degrees.
- Don’t leave your pet outdoors for a long time. If your dog has to be left outdoors for a while, make sure they have plenty of access to shade such as trees, a covered patio, or cool spot under the porch. Apply a pet specific or hypoallergenic sunscreen on sensitive areas like the nose, tips of ears and belly especially if they have light or thin fur.
- Know the signs of overheating. If your dog or cat begins very rapid, noisy breathing, has trouble swallowing, and starts to look very distressed, they could be having a heatstroke. Get the animal out of the heat. Apply cold, wet towels to the back of the head. Place cold packs wrapped in towels or plain wet towels between the back legs and on the belly. Cool off your pet and take them to the veterinarian immediately.
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Hot Weather Tips for Rabbits:
- Keep your rabbit cool on days that reach or exceed 80º F. Keeping them indoors with air conditioning on, and also place frozen bottles of water in their hutch that will help them cool off. Make sure to keep their regular water easily accessible.
- Put a ceramic tile or marble slab in the corner of your rabbit’s living area. The tile will provide a cool spot for your bunny to lie on, and you can cool the tile off in your fridge or freezer to make it even cooler.
- What to do when your rabbit becomes overheated. To treat an overheated bunny, wipe cool water on their ears and wrap their head in a cool wet towel before taking them to your veterinarian.
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For more information on how to keep pets safe, please visit:
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LA Animal Services promotes and protects the health, safety, and welfare of animals and the people who love them, and is one of the largest municipal shelter systems in the United States. With six Centers across the City, LA Animal Services serves approximately 60,000 animals annually and responds to 20,000 emergency calls involving animals or people in danger. LA Animal Services is part of the Human Animal Support Services (HASS) international coalition, joining 38 municipal shelters and animal welfare organizations across the country to reimagine and transform the way shelters care for animals and their families, by offering access to resources to help keep families together; getting lost pets home quickly without having to enter the shelter system; providing food and medical assistance; and continuing to build on a strong adoption and foster program so pets find their permanent homes or are placed in foster care. Visit our link.tree for helpful links to the services and resources available to you and your companion animals. Connect with LA Animal Services and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.
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