Animals like humans can become exhausted and overheated during the hotter summer months. Over exhaustion is a common concern and can lead to early signs of heatstroke. It is our duty as owners to keep our pets cool during these periods so our furry friends can enjoy a happy and comfortable life. These are a few of our recommended tips for keeping your pets cool.
- Limiting your pets exercise. Whilst we understand exercise is healthy and fun for all involved whether it be running or playing fetch in the park, it is important to ensure your pets do not suffer from heat exhaustion.
- In addition to overheating our pets may become dehydrated very quickly. Provide your animals with fresh cold water and regularly make sure their bowls are topped up.
- Provide your pets with plenty of shade in the outdoor areas. Cover such as dog houses may make matters worse for your pets as it traps the heat inside. Providing natural shade outdoors with plenty of room for airflow would be the best option.
- Leave your pets at home. It may be tempting to take your dog for a drive with you to the shopping centre or out to see friends. However leaving your pets in the car may cause them to heat up very quickly. Avoid overheating your pets by leaving them at home with a fresh bowl of water.
- Let your animals choose cool spots to spend their time. Our pets release heat from their bodies differently from us humans, they will be able to find cool places around the house to take some time to relax and recover from the heat.
Heatstroke is a particular risk for our pets during the hotter months and there are obvious signs to look for to determine if our pets may be at risk. These may include things like difficulty breathing, heavy panting, elevated heart rate, fever, dizziness, lack of coordination and even possibly a deep red tongue.
To treat our pets should we discover any of the above symptoms should be to first move them to a cooler area either within the shade or anywhere within an air conditioned area. Apply cool towels or water packs and provide them with cool water. If the above symptoms appear severe then take them directly to a veterinarian.
Hopefully these tips will help to keeping your animals and pets safe during these upcoming summer months.