Think twice before leaving your pet alone in the car on a hot day > INSIDE PET NEWS PETS AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION PET PAPARAZZI CONTEST
T2 THE COURIER Pets often left voiceless and alone By BRIAN BOHNERT FOR THE COURIER It s just 20 minutes, right? A quick trip to the grocery store, or maybe a stop at your local salon. But while you re out picking up a gallon of milk or getting your nails done, Fluffy could be fighting for his life inside your hot car. Dozens of small children die each year inside oppressively hot, locked vehicles, and pets are often left to suffer the same fate, voiceless and alone. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the temperature inside an automobile can rise as much as 30 degrees in 20 minutes even with the windows cracked. And like small children, dogs cannot regulate their own internal temperatures the way an adult human can making time a crucial factor in the animal s survival. Dogs don t h a v e s w e a t glands, so they release heat through the mouth, said Detective Brandon Bell of the Fostoria Police Department. When it s hot in there, they re not expelling any of that heat, so all they can do is slobber and try to get it out. Bell, who patrols the streets of Fostoria with his K9 partner Riky, said his cruiser is equipped with a heat alarm system designed to warn him if the vehicle s internal temperature rises above 80 degrees. If it does, and Riky is still inside the vehicle, the cruiser s sirens will sound to get Bell s attention and the windows will roll down to circulate air. If the air conditioner stops working or if I forget to turn it on, the lights will start flashing, the sirens will start going off and Riky will be looking at If Fluffy wants to go for a ride and it s 80 percent humidity and 90 degrees outside and you re only going to make a single stop leave Fluffy at home in the air conditioning. me like, What the heck? You left me in the heat, Bell said. The Humane Society of the United States lists several signs of heat stroke in pets, including: heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid pulse, unsteadiness, a staggering gait, vomiting, or a deep red or purple tongue. If a pet is exposed to high temperatures, the Humane Society urges people to move the animal to a cooler area and take the following steps: Gradually lower the body temperature by applying cool (not cold) water all over the body or by soaking the animal in a cool bath. Place cool, wet towels over the back of the neck, in the armpits and in the groin area. Direct a fan on the wet areas to speed evaporative cooling. If the animal is alert and wants to drink, you may also offer fresh, cool water. However, it is important not to force the pet to drink. Experts also recommend immediately taking the pet to a veterinarian it could be the difference between life and death. Anyone who sees an animal in a car exhibiting signs of heat stress is urged to call a local animal control agency or police department and provide the following information: the vehicle s license KEITH LORENO, FOSTORIA POLICE CHIEF plate number, the nearest business or recognizable landmark, and any pertinent details about the animal s condition. F o s t o r i a Police Chief Keith Loreno said his department gets its fair share of related complaints each year, and his officers take each one as seriously as if it were a small child. My guys are very proactive with animals, Loreno said. They re very cognizant of animals that have been abandoned, and I generally like to think they go the extra mile. As with a child, Loreno said he understands a person seeing a dog or cat trapped inside a hot vehicle may have the gut reaction to break a window and rescue the animal. But in Fostoria, the officers pride themselves on their quick response times. We have a pretty rapid response, File photo THINK YOUR pet will be fine in the car while you run inside the store for an errand? Think again. Dozens of pets, especially dogs, die each year in hot vehicles, even when the windows are cracked and, unlike humans, dogs can t regulate their internal body temperature. he said. We re going to get out there right away. Gov. John Kasich recently signed a bill into law protecting people from prosecution if they break into a locked vehicle to save a child or an animal. It doesn t go into effect until Aug. 29, and even when it does, Loreno will still urge Fostorians to give officers a chance to respond before reacting. If someone were to use a hammer to bust a window out, you re throwing glass everywhere, Loreno said. That tempered glass goes everywhere. Fostoria police carry a small tool complete with a seatbelt cutter and window breaker, specially designed to safely shatter the tempered glass of an automobile. According to statistics obtained from the Officer Down Memorial Page, 27 police K9s died in the line of duty in 2015. Twelve of those deaths the majority were caused by heat exhaustion. In 2014, only four of the reported 20 K9 deaths were due to the same cause. Since 2010, however, 30 of the 115 total K9 deaths reported in the U.S. were due to heat exhaustion. Only two of those heat-related fatalities occurred in Ohio Mercer County Sheriff s Office K9 Zak on Aug. 1, 2012, and Montville Police Department K9 Beny on Sept. 28, 2014. And while every situation is different whether police dog or house pet Loreno said most of the time it just boils down to exercising common sense. If Fluffy wants to go for a ride and it s 80 percent humidity and 90 degrees outside and you re only going to make a single stop leave Fluffy at home in the air conditioning, he said. Just how hot can it get inside your car in summer? Outside air temperature t (F) Elapsed time 70 75 80 85 90 95 0 minutes 70 75 80 85 90 95 10 minutes 89 94 99 104 109 114 20 minutes 99 104 109 114 119 124 30 minutes 104 109 114 119 124 129 40 minutes 108 113 118 123 128 133 50 minutes 111 116 121 126 131 136 1 hour 113 118 123 128 133 138 > 1 hour 115 120 125 130 135 140 Source: Jan Null - San Francisco State University JASON SMITH / The Courier
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THE COURIER T11 ALL ABOUT DOGS GROOMING DOG COAT HEALTH S hiny or dull? Many factors can determine the coat health of your dog. Some can even be serious conditions that need to be checked out by a veterinarian. FOTOLIA As a dog owner, you can take some simple steps to make sure your dog looks and feels its best. Read on and spread the word to your fellow dog-lovers to make sure all your pooches have great hair days. CAUSES OF DRY COAT Poor nutrition is one of the main causes of dull and lifeless coats. A dull coat is a great indicator that your dog is not receiving a healthy diet of meat, protein and nutrients. Tuna, salmon and other sources of omega-3 fatty acids can all contribute to a healthy coat. Avoid by-products, preservatives and grains that do little for your dog s overall health. It may cost you a bit more money at the grocery store or local pet shop for higher-grade dog food, but it will be worth it to see your dog maintaining more of its shiny coat. MEDICAL PROBLEMS A dull coat can be a sign of serious medical problems that may not be visible to the eye. Parasites such as tapeworms and roundworms can take away important nutrients that your dog needs to sustain its health. Infections, fleas, ticks and kidney issues also can have the same effect. A veterinarian will be able to identify and resolve the issue. If you notice your once-shiny dog begin to show signs of a dry, dull coat, it may be time for a check-up. BRUSH & BATHE REGULARLY One of the best ways to make sure natural oils reach your dog s skin surface is through regular brushing. Brushing your dog at least once every other day helps you achieve this by stimulating the skin and hair follicles. In terms of bathing, it is important to no overdo it. Bathing once a month is a good general guideline, but your dog may need more frequent baths due to skin or coat type. A moisturizing shampoo that won t irritate skin is your best bet, along with natural conditioner to soothe your dog s skin.
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