Hot and Bothered

We’ve been having some lovely weather recently and are expecting more to come, so we’re taking this opportunity to go over how to safely enjoy this weather with your pets.

Pets die in hot cars, so you should NEVER leave your pet alone in the car, for ANY reason, whether a window is open or not. When it’s 22C outside it can get up to 47C inside the car within 60mins. Try and plan journeys in advance so that there would be no reason for your pet to be in your car unattended.

The sun is shining and this is a lovely time to be out and about walking your dogs. Be careful what time of day you are exercising your dogs and what type of exercise they are doing. We would advise that dogs are not exercised during the hottest parts of the day and gentle exercise is encouraged. Try to refrain from playing games with balls etc as dogs can get too hot and be unable to control it. Allowing dogs to paddle in pools, streams, lakes and the sea (safely) is a great way to keep them cool whilst allowing them to exercise. It is particularly important to keep dogs with heart or respiratory problems calm and quiet in this weather; they are best kept indoors with a fan nearby to keep them cool.

Heat stroke can be fatal in pets and most commonly occurs when the animal has been allowed to get too hot and the animal cannot bring their temperature down themselves. They usually pant uncontrollably, are quiet and lethargic and reluctant to move. This condition is an emergency and it is vital to cool them down as fast as possible. One of the best ways to help cool them down at home is putting them in a lukewarm shower. If you are concerned your pet has heat stroke contact us immediately so we can advise you on the best next steps.

To keep dogs cool in this hot weather you can soak them with water. This is especially important for dogs with thick coats like Leonbergers, German Shepherds, Huskys etc. Make sure when you soak your dog that they are completely wet all the way down to the skin. It is also necessary to make sure your pet has access to shaded areas and water at all times.

White cats are also prone to sunburn. If you have a white cat you can try using a child’s sunblock on areas like the ears which have less fur covering and are more likely to burn. It would be best to test the lotion on a small patch of skin before using on the entirety of the ears in case they have a reaction. Ideally keeping these cats indoors/in shade is best, but cats usually do what they want regardless of what’s best!

We hope that this advice helps everyone to enjoy the lovely weather safely with their pets. If you have any concerns or queries about any of the issues brought up in this small blog then don’t hesitate to contact us at the practice on 01792 879 822.