Keep your pets cool in the heat
Pet owners should take note of keeping their furry friends well hydrated during the summer heat.
Pets can dehydrate quickly so ensuring they have cool, clean fresh water is essential.
Ensure that your pets have plenty of shady spots outside and, if indoors, that they are in well-ventilated rooms.
Symptoms of overheating in pets include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling and mild weakness.
Symptoms can also include seizures, bloody diarrhoea and vomit, along with an elevated body temperature.
Animals with flat faces, such as pugs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heatstroke since they cannot pant as effectively.
Also read: Caring for your senior pets
These pets, along with the elderly, the overweight, and those with heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.
Giving your dog a summer shave helps prevent overheating.
Shave down to about 2.5cm length, never to the skin, so your dog still has some protection from the sun.
Brushing cats more often than usual can prevent problems caused by excessive heat. As far as skin care, be sure that any sunscreen or insect repellent product you use on your pets is labelled specifically for use on animals.
When the sun is heating surfaces like asphalt or metal it can get really hot.
Try to keep your pet off of hot asphalt; not only can it burn paws, but it can also increase body temperature and lead to overheating.
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