Keeping Your Pet Cool
The hot summer weather is here and what better way to enjoy the sunshine than to get out and about in our local parks and beaches.
Our pets enjoy the outdoors just as much as we do, however there are some things we need to keep in mind to ensure the comfort and safety of our pets during the warmer months.
On extremely hot days we recommend all pets should be indoors with a fan or air conditioner on however if this is not possible some veterinary clinics and boarding kennels can provide airconditioned day boarding. Pugs, French bulldogs, Cavalier King Charles and other short nosed (brachycephalic) breeds are mostly affected.
Please make sure your pet has a sufficient amount of fresh water and the water bowl is not sitting in direct sunlight. The night before you could make a doggy Ice block, by filling an old container with water, sprinkling dry dog food, then freezing.
On the day, you could also leave a wet towel out for your pet to sit on. Also a child’s plastic seashell sand pit makes a great pool for a dog.
We always reiterate the importance of never leaving pets in the car in hot weather, as pets can overheat in a matter of minutes; this has sadly led to the deaths of otherwise healthy animals.
When exercising, wait till the sun has gone down before you take your dog for a walk. A good test is if the ground is too hot for your bare feet for 5 seconds, then it is too hot for your pet’s paws.
The heat can affect all types of animals. For our wildlife, leave a water bowl outside and place a stick in the bowl, so animals such as a lizard can climb out.
If you have a bird aviary, you can purchase mist sprinklers for the top of your aviary to keep your birds cool on a hot day.
Rabbits and guinea pigs do not sweat therefore cannot regulate their body temperature. They do not tolerate hot weather so best to keep them in air conditioning on hot days.
Please keep in mind even in the shade on a 38+ degree day, a pet can overheat and get heat stress/stroke simply by breathing in the hot air.
Some warning signs of heat stress/ stroke include panting excessively, moving sluggishly, acting woozy, drooling, vomiting, or losing consciousness.
If there are any signs of distress, please contact your local Sydney Animal Hospitals Kellyville 8883 0533 or Norwest 8883 0411 as heat stress can unfortunately be fatal if treatment of the condition is not sought promptly
