How to Keep Your Pets Cool Without Air Conditioning

A/C break, or a sudden heat wave come up? Your pets need special attention during extreme heat. Here are a few tricks I learned about keeping dogs, cats, and even pet rodents comfy when it's just too hot.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• water
• a freezer
• water/soda bottles
• a tub
• fans
• window coverings

1. Cats:
   Close all the blinds and drapes to keep pets out of direct sunlight.
   
   Set up multiple fans at floor level, and aim fans at the areas your cats like to sleep. Bathing cats is no easy task for most, but getting their paws, legs, and necks wet with cool water will help your cats cool off.
   
   Offer water with chunks of ice; the ice itself won't cool them down faster, but keeping the water cold will encourage them to drink more, thus keeping them hydrated.

2. Dogs:
   Much the same as with cats. Keep your dogs as calm as possible to avoid heat exhaustion, and skip any walks until after dark when it will be cooler.

3. Small Animals:
   Move all cages and tanks away from direct sunlight.
   Get an extra water bottle for each tank or cage, and keep one in your fridge. Switch the bottles out when they get warm throughout the day.
   Freeze some soda/water bottles and place them in the tank or cage so that your small animals have a cool place to sleep. (When you remove the bottles from the freezer, let them sit out a minute or two until the frost on the outside melts. Your pets will lick the bottles and may get stuck if the outside is still too cold).
   Remove any exercise wheels from the cage to keep small pets from over-exerting themselves.

Tips & Warnings

• Check your pets for dehydration by gently pinching the scruff of their necks (back of the neck just above the shoulder blades) and pulling up slightly. Let go, and if the skin stands up or takes more than a second or two to go back down, your pet is dehydrated and will need fluids administered by a vet as soon as possible.
• If temperatures in your home exceed 85 degrees, please consider letting a friend look after your pets, or bring them to a kennel. Such high temperatures can be very dangerous for animals, particularly cold weather dog breeds such as huskies and malamutes.
• If ANY of your pets begin foaming at the mouth or convulsing, seek IMMEDIATE veterinary help.