Source: William Fortney, assistant professor at K-State College of Veterinary Medicine
RADIO
REPORT: 1 Wrap
2 Actualities
You have selected a report on ways to keep your pets safe in the hot summer weather. The wrap and two sound bites follow in 3,2,1.
WRAP 1: A K-State expert explains some of the warning signs that your dog may be suffering from the heat.
TIME: 59 Seconds
SUGGESTED INTRO: HUMANS ARE NOT THE ONLY LIVING BEINGS SUSCEPTIBLE TO HEATSTROKE. WITH THE HOT SUMMER MONTHS UPON US, IT’S IMPORTANT TO KEEP OUR PETS SAFE WHEN THEY’RE OUTSIDE IN THE HOT SUN. AN EXPERT AT K-STATE’S COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE TELLS US WHAT TO LOOK FOR IF WE THINK OUR PET IS SUFFERING FROM THE HEAT. LANICE THOMSON REPORTS.
MUCH LIKE HUMANS, DOGS CAN ALSO SUFFER FROM THE EFFECTS OF THE SUN AND HEAT. BECAUSE THEY DON’T HAVE SWEAT GLANDS, DOGS COOL THEMSELVES THROUGH PANTING. DR. WILLIAM FORTNEY, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT K-STATE’S COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE EXPLAINS SOME OF THE SYMPTOMS YOU MIGHT SEE IF YOUR PET IS SUFFERING FROM OVERHEATING. . . .
(Fortney :26 "Initially what we see is excessive panting; the inside of their ears will get red or flushed. As it progresses and gets more serious, they will get weak and unable to get up. If they get up they're very wobbly or ataxic and eventually they’ll collapse, faint and lose consciousness. That’s very very critical at that point in time, and many of those dogs will not make it despite therapy.")
FORTNEY SAYS IT’S IMPORTANT TO RENDER FIRST AID TO YOUR ANIMAL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BY HOSING THEM OFF WITH COOL WATER OR PUTTING ICE AROUND THEIR HEAD OR NECK BEFORE TAKING THEM TO THE VETERINARIAN. LANICE THOMSON, KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY.