Humane Society of South Mississippi shares tips to keep pets safe during summer heat

With heat indices soaring across South Mississippi, experts say the summer weather can be just as dangerous for your pets as it is for you.

News 25’s Everett Ganier Jr. explains how a few simple precautions can prevent a trip to the emergency vet.

As temperatures climb into the 90s and heat indices push even higher, pet owners are being urged to take extra steps to protect their animals from the dangerous summer heat.

The Humane Society of South Mississippi says pets can quickly suffer from dehydration, burned paw pads, heat exhaustion, or even life-threatening heatstroke if they’re left outdoors too long. “Definitely want to make sure if you’re going on walks to do it early in the morning or later in the evening. Definitely not during the hottest part of the day and keep your walks to a minimum about 10 minutes or less. You also want to be cautious of their paws because the pavement can get really hot so you want to keep an eye on that. Make sure you have a lot of access to cool and hot water; make sure you have access to shade if they are outside. Don’t ever leave your pets in the vehicle, they can overheat extremely fast. Especially be cautious if you have flat faced breeds, they can over heat faster than other breeds of dogs and also if you have huskies or German Shephard’s you don’t want to cut them because their coat actually helps regulate their body temperatures but regular brushing can help during these hot temperatures.”

If your pet needs any medical attention, the Humane Society’s vet clinic is open Wednesday through Friday from 5 p.m. until midnight and Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 8 p.m. “Over heating can happen very quickly especially here in South Mississippi with the heat advisories. So, if you see stray animals walking the street, please pick them up. You can contact your local animal control officers or bring them to the Humane Society; we’ll scan them for a microchip and hopefully be able to re-unite them with their families but also, we’ll make sure they’ll get water and fluids if needed. We also love to give our shelter pets pup-sickles which you can do for your pets at home for a nice cool refreshing treat. Freeze some blueberries, cheerios, or milk bones to give them something cool to look forward to.”

By recognizing the signs of heat stress and taking simple precautions, pet owners can help keep their animals safe all summer long.