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player ready...As the world struggles to come to terms with rising temperatures due to climate change, Glenview veterinarian Dr. Ashley Rossman is seeing first hand how record breaking heat is affecting her most vulnerable patients.
“The hot weather is definitely a much bigger factor and it’s lasting longer,” she said. “People don’t realize how sensitive animals are. They’re wearing fur coats and they don’t shed heat as well as we do. A lot of it is just that people are not educated as to what to do with their pets when it’s warmer.”
She said it’s a growing problem exasperated by the fact the number of people adopting pets went up sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic; many of which are first time pet owners.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association website, there were 38,478 “licensed dogs” and about 610,600 “unlicensed dogs” in 2022 in Chicago. That data doesn’t include cats or pets living in Chicago’s collar counties.
Dr. Rossman’s father opened the clinic, the Glen Oak Dog & Cat Hospital, in 1975 and she joined the practice in 2006. Since then — as temperatures around the world have risen — so has the number of dogs and cats being treated for heat related health issues.
“We see dogs coming with fevers upward of 105 degrees,” she said. “They’re panting. Their tongues are turning purple. Sometimes they can be unconscious. Heat stroke can lead to death if it goes too far. The body can’t provide oxygen to all the organs. It’s a very serious matter.”
According to the Royal Veterinary College at the University of London, animals are unable to cool down by sweating as humans do, so they are less able to regulate their body temperature.
“Dogs and cats can suffer from heatstroke, a life-threatening condition where the body temperature increases to a point where serious consequences, including organ failure and even death, can occur,” the website says. “It’s easy for our pets to overheat in warm weather. Unlike us, they can’t remove layers when it gets hot and they don’t always have an option to move themselves to cooler places or avoid the sun.”
Rossman said overweight animals, and “flat faced breeds” like French Bulldogs, Persian cats and Pugs are especially susceptible to heat stroke because “they have trouble breathing at the best of times.”
“Sometimes people don’t realize that it’s only 75 degrees and sunny outside, but if you leave your pet in the car for half an hour it can go up 40 degrees in your car,” she explained. “Animals really can’t be left in cars unless the car is running with the air conditioning on. That’s probably one of the most common mistakes.”
It’s much safer to walk pets in the early morning or in the evening when the temperature is cooler, Rossman explained. She also said they should only walk on asphalt for a limited amount of time in hot weather because they could burn their paws.
“When they walk on hot pavement they don’t have shoes on,” she said. “It’s much better to have your pets walking on the grass, even just a sidewalk that’s not black. If you take your shoes off and put your foot on hot asphalt, you’d definitely burn yourself.”
Rossman also encouraged people to be on the lookout for symptoms of heat stroke in their pets, which can include panting, noisy breathing, restlessness, agitation, pacing, seeking shade or water, drooling, red gums or tongue, increased heart rate and vomiting or diarrhea. She also said that when it’s hot inside or outside, pets should be well watered and be allowed to stay in a cool dry space.
“I think people love their pets and they want to do the best for their pets,” she said. “Sometimes they just don’t realize what’s best.”
Brian L. Cox is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.