dog with shades

If you’re planning a long-distance or large-scale residential move to or within the Wichita area, you’ll likely be hauling a lot of valuable items, from your furniture to your electronics and clothing. But what’s most important to consider, especially if you’re moving during the summer, is the precious cargo – your pets. Whether it’s the long-time family dog or a newborn kitten, our pets are extensions of ourselves. We grow with them and make lasting memories along the way, so it’s important to return the love they supply by keeping them comfortable on moving day.

This is especially true if you’re moving to Wichita, where temperatures surpass 90 degrees an average of 62 days a year. Wichita is also a very humid area, which, combined with the summer heat, creates a lot of risk factors when transporting pets over long distances.

Here are some sure-fire ways to help your four-legged friends beat the heat during your Wichita move:

Understand your pet’s disadvantages Unless you just recently added a new pet to the family, you likely already know a lot about your pet’s breed and used that information when deciding if they would be a good fit for your home. Use what you know about your pets when moving as well. For example, some dog breeds like Boston terriers and boxers have shorter muzzles that reduce their air intake regardless of location. This could be further complicated by the moisture in the Wichita air, so make sure to provide a cool space and lots of water to pets that are especially affected by the heat.

Fans aren’t always the answer Your pets expel heat differently than you – an example being dogs, who sweat through their feet. That means you have to approach cooling your pets differently. It may seem like a good idea to crowd your pets with fans but, if they fall asleep in front of one, the constant airflow may end up just dehydrating them. Instead, try applying cold water towels or letting them munch on ice cubes.

Recognize the signs of heat exhaustion Many of the signs can be spotted with a simple eye test, but you can go a step further by periodically checking your pet’s temperature throughout your move. It’s also important to research normal body temperatures for each type of pet. A dog’s internal temperature, for example, should not exceed 104 degrees. Other signs to watch for include heavy panting, lack of coordination, and a deep red or purple tongue.

Call in the professionals While they don’t offer pet moving services, our professionally certified movers at Daniel’s Moving & Storage can handle the planning and heavy-lifting while you make sure your pets stay cool.

If your pets are cool but you’re still feeling the heat from organizing a summer move to Wichita, give our friendly representatives at Daniel’s Moving & Storage a call today to learn more about our extensive list of moving services. You can also fill out our quick online form to receive your free, no-obligation quote!