Keep your furry friends safe during the heatwave
Extreme heat can kill your animals.
Tshwane and surrounding areas will experience an extreme heat wave, not relenting for the next seven days, according to Gauteng meteorologists.
The summer can be challenging, even dangerous, for pets and people.
Symptoms to watch out for overheating in pets include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor or even collapse.
More serious symptoms may include seizures, bloody diarrhoea, vomiting and an excessive body temperature of 40 degrees and more.
How can you prevent your pet from overheating?
Never leave your animals alone in a parked vehicle. Not only can it lead to fatal heat stroke, but it is also frowned upon.
Make sure your pets always have access to clean fresh water as they can dehydrate quickly. It is of utmost importance that your pets have a shady place where they can chill outside and away from the sun. Also, be careful not to over-exercise them and keep them indoors when it is hot.
Another thing to avoid is walking your dog during extreme heat. Being so close to the ground, their body can heat up quickly and their paws can burn. So keep walks to a minimum until the worst heat is over.
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Taking a swim is always welcome to cool down. Leaving your pet unsupervised around a pool is not advised, as not all dogs are good swimmers.
When taking your dog for a swim, gradually introduce them to the water. When on a boat, it is vital they wear floating safety devices at all times. After a swim, rinse your dog with clean water to remove chlorine or salt from its fur.
If you think your pet is overheating, immediately take them to a cooler area and wet them with cool water, but NOT cold water as this can be dangerous.
Use a fan to dry them off. Use a thermometer to check their temperature as anything over 40 degrees is dangerous. Give them cool, not cold or ice water to drink.
Even if you think that your pet is ok, take them to the nearest vet to make sure. Stay cool and stay safe.
