With the weather starting to warm up, it’s important to keep an eye on your pet. If you’re feeling hot, chances are your pet is too!
While most cats and dogs are pretty efficient at cooling themselves down, when the weather really warms up, they can become vulnerable to overheating. But with a few key steps, you can help keep your pet cool and safe in the warmest of summer temperatures.
Provide plenty of fresh drinking water
It’s important to encourage your cat or dog to stay hydrated. This can be harder with cats, so entice them with running tap water for them, or putting out additional water bowls. Opt for ceramic bowls, as they are great for keeping the water cold, and won’t absorb the water as quickly as other bowls can.
Don’t forget to give your dog water while they are on a walk or out and about – a portable water bowl makes this an easy task for providing water on the go.
Offer more wet food
If your cat or dog isn’t so keen on drinking lots of water, consider increasing the amount of wet food you offer on hotter days. This is a really easy way for your pet to take in more fluid without them even realising. If you do up the amount of wet food in your pet’s diet, it’s important to reduce the amount of dry food so you don’t overfeed them.
Walk your dog in the cooler parts of the day
It’s still important to exercise your dog in summer, but you need to avoid the harshness of the sun. This will significantly reduce the risk of your dog overheating and burning their feet on hot pavement or asphalt. If the ground feels hot to your touch, it’s too hot for your dog’s feet!
- Go for walks in the early morning or in the evening
- Take it slow, and allow for plenty of breaks during your walk
- Opt for two shorter walks rather than a longer walk
- If you have the space inside your house, opt for some indoor games with your dog, such as modified versions of fetch
Keep your pet cool
If possible, keep your pet inside during the hottest parts of the summer day, with cool air circulating via a fan or air-conditioning. An ice pack wrapped in a damp towel, or a cooling mat will help provide your furred friend some cool relief in the worst of the day’s heat.
Give your dog some water to play in
Most pups love water and will appreciate getting wet when it’s warm. A nice refreshing swim in a pool (or paddle pool for smaller dogs) is a great way to keep them cool. If you don’t have access to a pool, a play under a sprinkler or hose is more than enough to help cool your dog down.
Signs of heat stroke
While cats and dogs rely on panting to cool themselves down, they can still become overheated in certain circumstances. Flatter-faced brachycephalic breeds of dogs (such as pugs, bulldogs and shih tzus) and cats (persians, burmese and himalayans) are also at increased risk of heat stroke due to their shortened noses and ineffective panting.
Heat stroke is a life-threatening condition, so it’s important to know the signs to look out for.
- Distressed breathing
- Panting that seems to be excessively laboured
- Difficulty walking or weakness
- Lethargy
- Vomiting
- Glazed eyes
- Drooling or salivating
If you think your pet may have heat stroke, you need to try and cool them down as quickly as possible. Move them into air-conditioning or under a fan and spray cool water onto their fur and skin and call your vet for advice.
If you are ever concerned that your pet may be overheating and becoming unwell, please get in touch. We are open from 8am – 6pm weekdays, and 8am – 1pm on Saturdays. You can call us on 07 3801 1744.