It's About Animals

Now, imagine this. You are running into a store just to grab a few things. You will be right back. You leave your family dog in your car and leave a window partially open. Your dog waits for you. He pushes his face as close to the open window as he can. He has no water to drink. He has little shade and too little fresh air. He's panting but starts to overheat anyway. You emerge from the store to find your dog listless on the car seat. On a warm, sunny day the temperature in a parked car can reach more than 160°F in a matter of minutes-even with the windows partially open. Your companion animal can rapidly suffer brain damage or die from heat stroke or suffocation when trapped inside the vehicle in high temperatures.

The signs of heat stress are heavy panting, glazed eyes, rapid pulse, unsteadiness, a staggering gait, vomiting, or a deep red or purple tongue. With only very hot air to breathe, your pets could suffer permanent brain damage within moments. Remember that pets can't sweat like people do when they get hot. To cool themselves off, they pant and drink extra water. If your pet is panting, it is a good first sign that he or she is hot. If your pet has overheated, he or she must be cooled off IMMEDIATELY. You will need to lower the animal's body temperature as quickly and safely as possible. Here's what you can do:

• Move the animal into the shade and apply cool (not cold) water all over its body.
• Apply ice packs or cold towels onto the animal's head, neck, and chest. This will gradually lower its body temperature.
• Let the animal drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes.
• Get him or her to a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Try to avoid traveling with your pet in extreme weather conditions. If you must travel in hot weather, try to do so in the evening or early morning. I always bring a couple of jugs of water with me. The water can be used to cool down your pet if the car should break down. If you are traveling far, dogs should be given water and exercise during rest stops. Never allow them to run loose at rest areas. No matter how well trained an animal is, this is a new experience and an accident could happen. And remember, leaving a dog or cat unattended also exposes him or her to pet theft. Thousands of pets are stolen each year from unattended cars. Your pets should always wear collars with proper identification tags at all times and be kept under control in accordance with local leash laws. This is even more important when vacationing, as pets can easily become lost in a strange environment.

Summer travel with your pet can be fun for all. However, without proper planning even a short trip could become a nightmare for your pet. Be smart. Think ahead. Your companion animal's life is in your hands.

Bob DeFranco is an applied animal behaviorist, radio and television talk show host, director of the Animal Behavior Center of New York and President of the American Foundation for Animal Rescue, Inc. in Queens. Questions or comments? Write P.O. Box 7623, Rego Park, NY 11374 or e-mail him at: bob@canines.com

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