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Summer tips for animal lovers
WITH summer just around the corner, let’s share some tips that will help keep our fur babies safe this summer from the threat of heat stroke.
What is heat stroke?
It’s a condition marked by fever and often by unconsciousness, caused by the failure of the body’s temperature-regulating mechanism when the animal is exposed to excessively high temperatures.
Signs of heat stroke:
- Increased heart rate
- Excessive panting
- Bright red tongue
- Red or pale gums
- Thick, sticky saliva
- Depression
- Dizziness
- Vomiting (sometimes with blood)
- Diarrhoea
How can heat stroke be prevented?
- Keep pets with conditions like heart disease, obesity or old age and breathing problems in cooler spots or the shade.
- Provide access to water at all times.
- Do not leave your pet in a hot car, even when parked in the shade or for a short period of time. The temperature inside a parked car can quickly reach up to 140 degrees.
- Make sure outside dogs have access to shade.
- On a hot day, restrict exercise and don’t take your dog jogging with you.
- Do not muzzle your dog.
- Avoid places like the beach and especially concrete.
- Wetting your dog with cool water or allowing him to swim can help maintain a normal body temperature.
Importantly, as heat stroke progresses, it can cause seizures, coma, cardiac arrest, and death.
