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5 Ways to Keep Your Pet Cool This Summer

Summer is here, which means we’re all spending a lot more time outside in the sun with our furry friends. It’s essential, however, to take steps to ensure that our pets stay cool.

 

Signs of heat stress

 

Monitor your pet for the following symptoms of heat stress:

 

  • Rapid panting
  • A bright red tongue
  • Red or pale gums
  • Thick, sticky saliva
  • Dizziness
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhoea
  • Weakness
  • Depression
  • Shock
  • Collapse

 

If your pet has any of these symptoms, contact us as soon as possible on 4955 6670

 

Heat stress prevention

 

To avoid heat stress, we recommend taking proactive steps to keep your pet cool this summer.

Our top tips for beating the heat:

 

  1. Give your pet access to a fresh supply of drinking water and plenty of shade. We recommend adding ice-cubes to water throughout the day to keep it cold. You can also look at purchasing an automatic water bowl, so your pets never run dry and can top up their water when they’re thirsty.
  2. Never leave your pet in the car unattended, even with the windows down. Remember, cars can reach up to 70°C on a hot day in a very short amount of time.
  3. Avoid activity during the hottest part of the day. For example, aim to walk your pet before 11am or after 3pm. As a rule of thumb, if you can’t leave your hand on the ground for more than five seconds, then it’s too hot for your pet’s feet.
  4. Stay inside with the air conditioning on during particularly hot or humid days. Sometimes it’s just too hot for your pet!
  5. Make frozen treats for your pet using simple ingredients like treats and beef or chicken stock. These days, you can even find dog-safe ice-cream
  6. Trim your long-haired cat or dog to keep them cool. Learn more about pet grooming

 

Little pets

 

Don’t forget that your smaller animals like rabbits, guinea pigs, and birds are very sensitive to heat and suffer from heat exhaustion easily. To avoid this, make sure that they always have a fresh supply of drinking water and access to shade. In fact, we recommend keeping your smaller pets completely indoors over the summer months if possible.

 

For more advice on keeping your pet cool this summer, feel free to call us on 4955 6670

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