Keeping animals of all sizes, from cats to horses, cool during record heat

WEST PALM BEACH Fla AP With record temperatures hitting the U S pet owners have to protect their four-legged family members from dangers like heat stroke and dehydration But keeping an animal the size of a small car cool isn t as easy as bringing it inside to the air conditioning That s why Alicia Grace owner of Pink Flamingo Stables has to take extra procedures to keep her horses safe and healthy in South Florida s hot and humid state Blazing saddles Grace cares for eight full-size horses and three ponies on her Lake Worth Beach property South Florida has a large equestrian district especially in Palm Beach County with the National Polo Center located in Wellington But the context isn t ideal for horses which generally do better in drier cooler environments Grace reported Not only do we have the heat but we also have all the humidity Grace announced And with that comes the bugs flies and mosquitoes which can definitely breed in their cuts and cause all sorts of issues Grace mentioned it s pivotal to keep the horses hydrated and out of the sun during the hottest parts of the day All paddocks have shaded areas and barns are equipped with large fans They invariably have constant access to water Grace noted We bathe them daily and we have cooling blankets that you can literally put on after a ride While cats and dogs can be brought inside to cool conditioned air on especially hot days that s not as easy for horses and other large animals They authentically do now make air conditioning units for horses but they are quite expensive Grace revealed It is definitely a different animal and definitely requires a lot more care Besides concerns about overheating or dehydration horses are also vulnerable to algae and fungus that thrive in the South Florida environment We get a lot of flooding during our rainy season and if the horses are out in that and their hooves get saturated they can get abscesses which are pus pockets and get a lot of problems with their feet Grace explained Hot dogs and cats Cats dogs and other house pets are easier to keep cool but pet owners still have to remain vigilant during the summer Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control spokeswoman Arielle Weinberger noted Just like horses any cats and dogs kept outside need shade and water Executives are especially concerned about pet owners leaving dogs and cats inside vehicles Local laws might vary throughout the state but it s illegal to leave animals unattended in vehicles for any amount of time in Palm Beach County Weinberger noted During hot weather she noted the temperature inside a van can increase degrees in just minutes We want to make sure that no animals are left unattended and that includes even if the window is cracked even if the A C is on Weinberger revealed Animals cannot be unattended in a car it is for their safety Dog owners especially need to check pavement Weinberger disclosed Concrete and asphalt can reach temperatures of up to degrees degrees during the summer months so finding grass or dirt for pets to walk on is ideal If that s not practical pet owners might need to invest in booties or paw wax If it s too hot for you to touch with a bare foot or a bare hand it s too hot for your pets as well Weinberger mentioned People who don t in fact own pets can also help to keep animals safe whether it s neighborhood cats or local wildlife by leaving water outside Weinberger stated Animal control officers will respond to pets and livestock suffering from signs of dehydration or heat stroke but Weinberger explained residents should call local wildlife rescue facilities if they see a raccoon or other wild animal in bad shape If an animal seems overheated it can be cooled down with water on their head stomach and feet But if they start to experience effects like diarrhea lethargy dizziness and vomiting it s time to seek healthcare attention Weinberger commented We want to take them to the vet as soon as doable because heat stroke can lead to organ failure and we want to make sure that it doesn t get to that Weinberger stated Dog days of summer Matthew Puodziukaitis of Wellington regularly brings his mini goldendoodle Hazel to the Okeeheelee Park dog area He announced he perpetually brings a bottle of cold water and a bowl for Hazel and any other dogs who might need it The last thing you want is a dog passing out or something bad happening to them out here Puodziukaitis announced They re basically like a little kid You want to make sure they re okay