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The summer heat isn't just hard on humans. Veterinarians throughout the state are warning pet owners that some breeds are especially at risk for heatstroke.
At Quail Pointe Veterinary Hospital in Clinton, veterinarians don't like what they're seeing. In just the past few days, they've treated three dogs with heatstroke. Two of the animals were in a coma and had to be euthanized. Dr. Kathleen Ford, with Quail Point Veterinary Hospital, said, "People have found them unresponsive in the backyard, or already lethargic and panting hard and in really bad shape by the time they get to us."
The first dog, an older, long-coated Australian shepherd, was found by his owner in the backyard.
The second, an English bulldog, was trapped in his owner's garage where the dog door had been accidentally blocked.
Another little dog that came in yesterday had been outside for about three to four hours. Ford said, "He had a temperature of over 112. That was as high as our thermometer would read."
These dogs were not locked up inside a car. Two of three were simply outside in a yard, playing in a place you would think this would not happen.
These dogs are the ones mostly at risk. "The little short faced dogs don't have the ability to cool the air as well and to breathe as much as the longer nose dogs," Ford said. "They have the same exact structure as the long dogs, but it's just shortened into a long space."
While being extra careful with these breeds, Ford advises caution with all dogs. When walking dogs, stay off asphalt or black pavement. And since sweat glands are only in their paws, take along some alcohol in a spray bottle. Ford said, "The alcohol will help evaporate off their feet and cool it a little better, so you'd spray their foot pads if they're not rough and opened, if it's just normal foot pad tissue."
Ford said pets need shade and water, but for some breeds, they need to be monitored while outside even for a couple of hours.
Watch for early signs, especially if the dog appears lethargic or panicky.
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