They say it’s getting hot! By “they,” I mean everyone who lives outside of San Francisco, and this blog post from Ronnie Citron-Fink on The Huffington Post. I was especially tickled by this bit:

Along with all the substantiated research about global warming, I believe the Earth is heating up because my pets say so.

I’m concerned about climate change. But I’m more immediately curious about how weather impacts our pets. After Gida ran herself ragged at a kid’s birthday party in the park — during a hot hot hot day for even weather-havin’ Bay Area people — I wondered how she’d fare in even warmer weather or more humid climes. Even in my mild-to-cold climate, she 1) never self-regulates with exertion and playtime, and 2) has flat-out refused to drink water even when she’s panting like crazy. In real heat, would her heart freak out? Her skin? Her fur?

Since we’re living in our beloved weather-less region for the foreseeable future, enlighten me: even when we take the proper precautions*, how is your pet’s health impacted by seasonal heat?

*Those “proper precautions” include not leaving pets in the car. From the My Dog Is Cool campaign and, well, me, please don’t leave your pet in the car.

Photo: Alex94tay on Flickr