As mercury soars, so does chance of pets suffering stroke, experts ...

The dog days of summer are near and area pet experts say Fido and Fluffy should not be out in the heat suffering.

A heat adisory is in effect from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. today as temperatures will rise to 100 degrees and humidity will make it feel like it is between 105 and 109 degrees along the Grand Strand, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington, N.C.

The hottest time of the day is expected to be during the afternon, so residents should guard themselves and their pets against the heat, officials said.

Similar conditions also are expected Wednesday, but there is a 40 percent chance of rain in the evening, when unstable weather will likely move onto the Grand Strand, according to forecasters with the National Weather Service in Wilmington, N.C.

Thunderstorms are expected to persist throughout the week, but temperatures will cool slightly on Thursday to highs near 89 degrees and a high near 86 degrees on Friday, according to forecasters.

As the temperatures increase, so do calls to area police about animals left outside without proper shelter or adequate water, Horry County police Sgt. Robert Kegler said.

"We see about a 10 to 15 percent increase in those types of calls when the temperature rises," he said.

To prevent heat stroke in your pet or having animal control officers knocking at the door, officials say animals, especially those left outdoors, should have plenty of fresh water and shelter from direct sunlight.

At the Horry County Animal Care Center, some animals are inside the building while others are in runs where they have access to fenced outdoor areas, said Kelly Bonome, manager.

"We do give them lots of fresh water. We have fans that blow on some of them and others are in air conditioning," Bonome said.

"We watch for signs or symptoms of heat stroke. We don't let them stay out in the hot sun without access to shade."

Animals at the Grand Strand Humane Society in Myrtle Beach are all housed in the air-conditioned indoors and are let outside and back through doors in their pens, said executive director Sandy Brown.

"If it's really hot, we don't let them out," she said.

Pet owners should pay attention to the weather and the chance for thunderstorms, which also can pose problems for outdoor animals, Bonome said.

"Watch the weather, not only is the heat index high, but we have these storms that pop up, so they should make sure [animals] have access to shelter," Bonome said.

Brown said that animals who need exercise should get it in the early morning or evenings during hot spells.

She said that owners should take water for their pets when they are exercising them. At the first sign of heat stress - constant panting - the exercise should stop and the pet should be given water, Brown said.

Besides constant panting, Brown said other signs of pet heat stress are lethargy and a redness in the mouth. She said that in extreme cases, an animal may have a seizure from being overheated, and that once that happens, owners should get them to a vet as soon as possible.

She said animals on their way to emergency treatment for overheating can be cooled somewhat by wiping their paws with rubbing alcohol. Additionally, she said that an animal that has collapsed from the heat can be bathed in cool - not cold - water before being taken to a veterinarian.

At Benji's Bed and Breakfast in Pawleys Island, a dog daycare and boarding facility, owner Charlotte Troy said they limit outdoor exposure for the dogs when the mercury rises. It is especially important for short-nosed dogs such as bulldogs, who have difficulty breathing, she said.

"We're very, very carful. If the heat index is up and the humidity is up all of our dogs are inside air-conditioned buildings," Troy said.

The dogs are taken out four to six times a day for about 10 minute intervals to relieve themselves, but are immediately brought back inside, Troy said.

"They're just as happy to come right back in and go right back to their rooms," she said. "Between 12 and 4:30 [p.m.], we limit the time and it works out well. When the humidity and temperature is what it is, we just can't leave them out."

For owners in the Myrtle Beach area, the city's south end Barc Parc is closed until sunrise Wednesday for routine quarterly maintenance, said Mark Kruea, city spokesman. The north end park remains open.

Source: http://www.thesunnews.com/2011/07/12/2273093/hazards-of-heat.html

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