Help your pets beat the heat this summer

Summer is upon us and by all accounts, as El Nino sets in, it’s going to be a hot, humid one.

While taking precautions to keep yourself cool over the next few months, Richards Bay SPCA urges pet owners to do the same for their animals.

Animals are as susceptible to heatstroke and heat exhaustion as humans are, the only difference being they cannot tell you how they are feeling.

With this in mind, it is imperative to take note of the following signs of heatstroke, what to do when heatstroke occurs, and how to prevent it.

Heatstroke symptoms in dogs and cats:

• Rapid panting, weakness, bright red tongue.
• Diarrhoea, vomiting, thick/sticky saliva.

What to do:

• Move dog to a cool area.
• Apply cool water all over the body; and cool towels to head, neck, and chest.
• Give small drinks of cool water.
• Take your dog to the vet ASAP.

Prevention is better than cure

As always, however, preventing the onset of heatstroke is far more ideal.
Keeping dogs cool on hot days:

• Restrict exercise.
• Never leave them in a hot car, not even for a few minutes.
• Walk them early in the morning or late afternoon. If your bare feet burn on a hot surface, so will their pads.
• Spray them with water to cool them down; wet their paws, as this also cools them down.
• Always make sure your animals have access to water that is kept in the shade. Add ice to their water.
• Make sure your animals have access to shade.

HAVE YOUR SAY