Dr Mark's summer article 2008
Take the Heat Off this Summer
(Available via VetShopOnline Newsletter Subscription)
By following some simple practical precautions, you can help take the heat off your pets this summer and prevent them suffering potentially-fatal heat stress.
Outdoor pets need a shaded area to take refuge from the heat throughout the day and access to a constant supply of cool, fresh water. Whether they are inside or outside pets, it’s a good idea to provide them with at least two water bowls, in case one is knocked over and look for a bowl with wide base which is harder to tip.
Some dogs even love to splash around in their water to keep themselves cool, so if your dog, is a water lover, consider providing them with a big bucket or even a child’s paddling pool filled with water.
Unfortunately some dogs are still being put at risk by being left in parked vehicles on hot days. Welfare organizations report that the temperature inside a parked vehicle can soar to over 140 degrees on a hot day, and it can take as little as 6 minutes for a living creature to die in a car. So please don’t leave your pets in the car on hot days!
Dogs still need to be exercised during the warmer months, but as they may be affected by the heat, think about walking your pooch early in the morning or in the cool of the evening.
Dogs can suffer heat stress and burnt paw pads if they’re taken for a walk during the heat of the day. Even standing on a hot surface, like the metal tray of a pickup or asphalt can cause damage to their paws.
Smaller animals also need attention. Pets like rabbits and guinea pigs are particularly vulnerable to heat stress, even when the mercury is only in the high 70s. Hutches and cages should be well ventilated and in a constantly shaded area. When the temperature rises above 80 degrees, we advise placing frozen water bottles in the cage, which they can rest against to keep cool.
Bird cages and aviaries should also be placed out of direct sunlight, and of course, if you own a horse, you should have removed its winter rug by now as the animal can overheat underneath the warm layer.
Dr Mark P, Bvsc VetShopOnline Head Vet
VetShopOnline.com