LAS VEGAS, July 5, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Summertime in Las Vegas sends temperatures soaring. For pet owners, this means new risks that they need to be on guard against, and Las Vegas, Nevada, veterinary clinic St. Francis Animal Hospital seeks to educate pet owners about the many risks animals face in summer and how to keep their precious pets safe all summer long. Some risks are not the obvious ones, but St. Francis is interested in warning area pet owners about all the risks and how they can avoid them to keep their pets safe this summer and in many summers to come.
"While leaving pets in parked cars is the first thing that comes to mind for many people who live in Las Vegas, it's not the only thing pet owners need to be concerned about during the summer," says St. Francis Animal Hospital veterinarian, Dr. Drake. "That doesn't mean that leaving pets in the car isn't a huge concern for Las Vegas, Nevada pet owners, it just means that owners need to be aware of other potential risks too."
One of the other risks pet owners should be concerned about is pavement temperature. When the air temperature is over 100 degrees, asphalt, concrete and driveways are much hotter. "While people walk around outside on days like this wearing shoes, dogs and cats have nothing to protect their paws from the searing heat of sidewalks reflecting the relentless summer sun," says Dr. Drake. It doesn't take long to damage pets' paws at these temperatures. Dr. Drake recommends that pet owners never allow their pets to walk on pavement that is too hot for them to walk on in bare feet.
During the summer it's often best to simply leave pets at home. However, pet owners who do take their pets out on the town with them should never leave pets parked in a car, even with the windows cracked the temperatures inside the car rise quickly and can be fatal for the pets left inside.
Avoiding heat related illnesses and deaths for pets in Las Vegas is really simple according to Dr. Drake. Pet owners need to first educate themselves about the signs or symptoms of heat stroke that include trouble breathing, inflamed gums, diarrhea with blood in it, vomiting and heavy panting. In extreme cases, this can include unconsciousness. If these symptoms are present, owners should immediately bring them indoors where there is air conditioning and spray the pet with cool water or wrap the pet in a towel that's been soaked with cool water. Once the pet's temperature has cooled, bring the pet to a veterinarian to ensure there is no lasting or residual damage.
About St. Francis Animal Hospital
St. Francis Animal Hospital, located on So. Eastern Avenue in Las Vegas, Nevada offers a wide range of emergency and preventative animal treatments for area pets.