b"Arizona Ask the VetREAL COUNTRY BEWARE THE the magazine SUMMER HEATMike BarnaPublisher S ummers almost here! Its time to sweat (or hide inFahrenheit. At 87 degrees air temperature, a blazing 143 the air conditioning). Many experts predict parts ofdegrees can be reached on the asphalts surface and at 95 ArizonaRealCountryMagazine@gmail.com the country will see warmer than usual weather overdegrees the asphalt will be a scorching 155 degrees. Keep the next few months and there may be a prolonged heatin mind an egg can fry at 131 degrees in just 5 minutes.Erika Smith Royal wave. Extreme heat is dangerous for us, as well as for ourA good rule of thumb to follow is the five-second rule.If family pets. The American Red Cross has steps to take toyou can press the back of your hand against the ground Editor help ensure your pet stays safe this summer: for five seconds, its probably safe for your dog to walk erika963realcountry@gmail.com upon. Better yet take offNever leave your pet in ayour shoes and stand on hot vehicle, even for a fewthe pavement barefoot. If Misty Voitovski minutes. Not even withyou can keep your feet on the car running and thethe pavement for more Creative Director air conditioner on. On athan five seconds, then warm day, temperaturesthe pavement isnt hot Contributing Writers inside a vehicle can riseenough to injure your rapidly to dangerousdog. Remember that Lee AndersonBob Boze Bell levels. On an 85-degreeartificial turf, running Bridgette CrosbyPete Floresday, for example, thetracks, sand, and even temperature inside abrick and concrete will Justin LeglerBetsy Lemaire car with the windowsalso be dangerous to your opened slightly can reachdogs paws during the hot Naomi LoomisDodge Marshall 102 degrees within 10summer months.Randy MillerJim & Bobbi Jeen Olson minutes. After 30 minutes, the temperature will reach Keep your pet inside Bill RobertsAlan Rockman 120 degrees. Your pet maywhenever possible. If your suffer irreversible organpet must be outside, make John SamsillMichele Wilson damage or die. Learn how to help a pet left inside a hotsure they have access to shade and plenty of cool water. car by taking action or calling for help. In heat waves, add ice to water when possible. Tree shade and tarps are ideal because they don't obstruct airflow.Limit exercise on hot days. Adjust the intensity andA doghouse does not provide relief from heatin fact, it 801 W. Wickenburg Way duration of exercise in accordance with the temperature.makes it worse.On very hot days, limit exercise to early morning or Wickenburg, AZ 85390 evening hours, and be especially careful with pets Water safety is important for your furry friends. Do not with white-colored ears, which are more susceptibleleave pets unsupervised around a poolthey arent all (602) 254-6644 to skin cancer, and short-nosed pets, which typicallygood swimmershave difficulty breathing. Asphalt gets very hot and can ArizonaRealCountry.com burn your pet's paws, so walk your dog on the grass if Watch your pets at a backyard barbecue. Keep them possible. Always carry water with you to keep your dogaway from the grill and know that some food can from dehydrating. be poisonous to them. Avoid raisins, grapes, onions, chocolate, and products with artificial sweeteners. Walk your pet in the grass if possible, to avoid hot surfaces burning their paws. What seems like a nice Some plants in your garden can be hazardous to comfortable stroll might be agonizing for your dog. animals. Visit the Animal Poison Control Center to find If the outside temperature is comfortable at 77 degrees,out which plants and flowers are poisonous to animals.Follow Arizona Realdriveways, and roads can still reach 125 degreescontinued on page 6Country for news, events, giveaways and more!Arizona Real Country is owned and published by Barna Broadcasting LLC. No person, organization or party can copy or reproduce the content on our website and/or magazine or any part of this publication without a written consent from the editors panel and the author of the content, as applicable. The publisher, authors and contributors reserve their rights with regards to copyright of their work.ArizonaRealCountry.com June 2023 5"