Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 48F. Winds light and variable..

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 48F. Winds light and variable.

“Dogs suffering from heatstroke can have elevated breathing rates, dry or sticky gums, abnormal gum color, bruising in the gums, may appear lethargic or disoriented, and can have seizures. Dogs with a restricted airway such as brachycephalic breeds (flat-faced dogs such as pugs, boxers, and bulldogs) are at greater risk,” according to VCA Animal Hospitals. (Photo courtesy of animalsbreeds.com)

“Dogs suffering from heatstroke can have elevated breathing rates, dry or sticky gums, abnormal gum color, bruising in the gums, may appear lethargic or disoriented, and can have seizures. Dogs with a restricted airway such as brachycephalic breeds (flat-faced dogs such as pugs, boxers, and bulldogs) are at greater risk,” according to VCA Animal Hospitals. (Photo courtesy of animalsbreeds.com)

It is always a wake-up call when the smoke and heat from inland wildfires blanket the coast like last weekend. One or two days was almost more than we could handle, so I could not imagine what people and pets in the thick of it were experiencing.

In addition to high heat and poor air quality, the fire danger was such that electric companies were shutting off power for days in a row. And in some places, the electric grids were being taxed due to the enormous demand. Will this become a regular occurrence?

It reminded me of a report that just came out by the First Street Foundation. According to the report, “New research from First Street Foundation analyzes the prevalence of increasing extreme temperatures and dangerous heat wave events throughout the contiguous United States, with a key finding being the incidence of heat that exceeds the threshold of the National Weather Service’s (NWS) highest category for heat, called ‘Extreme Danger’ (heat index above 125°F) is expected to impact about 8 million people this year, and grows to impact about 107 million people in 2053, an increase of 13 times over 30 years. This increase in ‘Extreme Danger Days’ is concentrated in the middle of the country, in areas where there are no coastal influences to mitigate extreme temperatures.”

Another aspect of the article discussed the lengthening of high heat days, which we just saw in Portland. Where it might have been seven days in the past, it will increase to 30 days in the future.

I did see stories of people with their pets flocking here last weekend to get out of the direct assault. Is this going to be the future where masses of people try to get relief by going to the coastal communities? There were temps of over 100 degrees in Southern California, even on the beaches. People were posting temps of 90 on our local Waldport and Newport beaches. As the oceans gets warmer, what will happen then?

Is it possible for even indoor pets to suffer heat stroke that we normally attribute to animals left in cars? The answer is yes, if they are left in an enclosed house with no ventilation, air conditioning or electricity for that matter.

According to VCA Animal Hospitals, “Heat stroke is a term commonly used for hyperthermia or elevated body temperature. Generally speaking, if a pet’s body temperature exceeds 103°F (39.4°C), it is considered abnormal or hyperthermic. Body temperatures above 106°F (41°C) without previous signs of illness are most commonly associated with exposure to excessive external or environmental heat and are often referred to as heat stroke. The critical temperature where multiple organ failure and impending death occurs is around 107°F to 109°F (41.2°C to 42.7°C).”

VCA goes on to say, “It is important to remember that dogs cannot control their body temperature by sweating as humans do, since they only have a relatively small number of sweat glands located in their footpads. Their primary way of regulating body temperature is by panting.”

The American Animal Hospital Association says these are the common signs of overheating, “Excessive panting; excessive drooling; difficulty breathing; vomiting, diarrhea, with or without blood; weakness; incoordination or stumbling; sudden collapse; and seizures.”

Considered a medical emergency, VCA recommends the following: “Safe, controlled reduction of body temperature is a priority. Cool water (not cold) may be poured over the head, stomach, armpits and feet, or cool cloths may be applied to these areas. If using cool wet cloths, these should be continually replaced, or they will start to retain heat. Ensure a continuous flow of air across the dog to help increase evaporative heat loss until treatment is received at your veterinary hospital. AAHA says to reduce to 102.5 then stop.

In addition, if your pets, livestock, horses or other animals are exposed to wildfire smoke, the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) says to look for these signs of adverse events: “Unusual coughing, sneezing or gagging; difficulty breathing, including open mouth breathing; eye irritation and excessive watering; inflammation of throat or mouth; nasal discharge; asthma-like symptoms; increased breathing rate; and weakness and lethargy.”

The OVMA also suggests how to keep animals safe from smoke. “Keep pets and pet birds indoors with the windows shut; avoid intense outdoor exercise during periods of poor air quality; exercise when dust and smoke has settled; limit time outdoors for pets on days designated with a red air quality alert to quick potty breaks; pet birds need to remain indoors as much as possible during the highest level advisories; animals that have cardiovascular or respiratory disease are at increased risk during periods of poor air quality and should be watched closely; include your animals in potential evacuation planning; take your pets with you if you leave.”

Jane Laulis is an avid pet lover. She hosts a pet talk radio show and is involved with pets from research to retail, nutrition to pet food manufacturing. She lives on the coast with her scientist husband, ocean faring dogs, indoor cats, exotic snakes and a charm of hummingbirds. She may be reached at janeandjunior@msn.com.

Your comment has been submitted.

There was a problem reporting this.

Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.

Have the headlines delivered every Wednesday and Friday so you don't miss out on updates.

Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.

Check your email for details.

Invalid password or account does not exist

Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.

An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account.

Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.

A receipt was sent to your email.