Hot Weather Panic!!

[ringletchk]

I freaked out yesterday when I got home from work.

The weather has been in the triple digits here in California and when I got home yesterday, my apartment was very hot.

When I walked in Skeeter came running to me as usual but he was panting and I know cats don't normally pant. I called the vet immediately and they told me to try to coax him to drink which didn't work.

I called the vet again and they suggested rubbing him down with a cold cloth and give him tuna can water to make him drink. I was also worried about giving him the tuna water since he has the urinary crystals and the vet told me it would be fine but not on a regular basis.

After about a 1/2 hour of rubbing him down with the cold cloth and the tuna water, he stopped panting. The vet called back to check on him and I was happy to tell her he was doing much better. I'm really happy with this new vet. The previous vet I had I'm sure wouldn't have called to check to see how he's doing.

Once he was back to normal, I immediately went to Home Depot and got an air conditioner and installed it. It's running now while I'm at work and hopefully Skeeter will be comfortable today and from now on.

PLEASE everyone be sure your home doesn't get too hot for your furbabies.

[That_girl]

I'm glad that you went out and got an air conditioner. Poor Skeeter, he must have been so hot with that coat!

You are an excellent pet mom, and I'm sure he appreciates his new temperature. :)

I'm glad that I don't live somewhere where it gets that hot regularily. We have our hot and muggy days, but they are usually breezy and my apt on the first floor stays relatively cool. It'll be interesting this summer making sure the gecko room doesn't get too hot, they can die hotter than 80 degrees.

[ringletchk]

Lizards (snakes with hands) freak me out but I didn't know they need to stay cool.

I'm anxious to get home today and see how he did with the A/C.

[That_girl]

Lizards (snakes with hands) freak me out but I didn't know they need to stay cool.


LOL! They really aren't that bad.

They are ectothermic, meaning their body temp is the same as the room temp. Reptile brains and organs can quiet functioning just like mammals if it gets too hot.

[Ltlpistol]

We've been in the 90's the past couple of days. The first day I was out all day, which isn't usual for me being a homemaker. I had locked Caley (long haired puppy) in the master bath with food and water. I had all the windows open since we only run the a/c at night right now. She was a little uncomfortable when we got home, but otherwise ok. As the days get hotter, I'll be getting the a/c on more often, though!

[kurikim]

Glad Skeeter's ok!

Good reminder. We usually keep our AC around 85 when we're away, though we forgot to turn on the air yesterday and it got up to 90 upstairs. Cooler downstairs though, especially with all the windows open. What's funny about it is that we were all home at the time and just didn't notice until my mom walked in from her frigid car and commented on how hot it was. :p

[ringletchk]

I agree. Normally it isn't this hot yet. It was 103 outside yesterday and I don't know how hot it was inside but I'm in a lower unit apartment so that keeps it a bit cooler.

I have the A/C set at 80 right now while I'm at work.

[Extremis]

Thanks for the reminder :)
Very happy that your kitty is ok, and wow! what a great Vet you've found too :)

I'm lucky in that I have a nice cool finished basement , so even if it gets muggy/hot upstairs, me and the zoo can hide out in comfort down there anytime :)

And a reminder about the car too, a hot car is NEVER a place for a pet! Heatstroke happens fast!

Check out the Humane Society info:
http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/cool_it_summers_heat_can_be_deadly_for_your_pet.ht ml

****