The dog days of summer are back in all of their glory!!!! The heat and humidity are causing temperatures to skyrocket into the upper 90’s and lower 100’s. But be careful in this heat, a person can easily become dehydrated and slip toward heat exhaustion and even heat stroke.  

 

Cheryl Skjolaas, Ag Safety Specialist with the UW Extension, says that some symptoms of heat stroke are having a high body temperature, hot dry skin, and having bad coordination. Heat exhaustion has some very different symptoms  - like a rapid heart rate, very heavy sweating with moist skin, weak feelings and a slightly elevated body temperature. Skjolass says these signs are not to be taken lightly - and emergency, trained personnel should be contacted immediately if signs are detected.

Skjolaas did have a  few helpful tips to stay cool on hot days. She suggested, taking breaks, wearing light loose fitting clothing, adjusting your schedule to work in the cooler parts of the day, making sure to be well rested, eating multiple smaller meals throughout the day, and be sure to DRINK WATER.

 

Now if you're an animal on these hot, muggy days - you rely entirely on human attention to off-set the weather.  Dr,  Nigel Cook, Clinical Associate Professor at UW-Madison Veterinary Medicine School says that animals start feeling heat stress at around 70°F. He says they have a hard time keeping cool because most of them cannot sweat,  so they use "thermal panting" or mouth breathing - to cool off.  Dr. Cook says cows, for example, are unique.  A cow’s temperature accumulates throughout the day peaking later at night. So as long as there are some cool nights they can tolerate the heat rather well. 

 

Cook explained that almost all animals show heat stress in the same way. They stand with their head down, mouth open, tongue hanging out  and panting. A few ideas he had to keep animals cool are to utilize evaporative cooling. That means using soakers and fans around feeding areas, milking areas, holding pens, and in rest areas too. He also said to make sure that they have plenty of shade and water.

 

Heat and humidity can do some pretty crazy things to people and animals alike, so be sure to watch out for everyone’s warning signs. You just never know…this could be the time of year they need you the most.