As warmer weather approaches, so is the increased risk of overheating in our pets. Whether your furry friend is a long-haired pooch or a short-haired mog, we’ve put together our top summer tips to help you keep them safe.
How to keep dogs cool
- Make sure that a full bowl of fresh drinking water is always available for your pooch.
- When going on walks, it’s a good idea to carry a bottle of water and a drinking bowl with you.
- Watch your dog for signs of overheating, like heavy panting and loss of energy. If you recognise these signs when on a walk, stop, find a shaded spot, and give them some water.
- Never leave your dog alone in a hot car, even with the windows open. If it’s 22°C outside, it can reach 47°C inside the car within 60 minutes. If you do see a dog alone in a car on a hot day, call 999.
- Make a cooling treat for dogs by freezing ice cubes with your dog’s favourite food inside. Alternatively, stuff a Kong and pop it in the freezer for the same effect.
- Be extra cautious with short-nosed (brachycephalic) dogs such as bulldog breeds, boxers and pugs; as well as older dogs and those that are overweight. These dogs can get heatstroke simply by running around. Walk them at cooler times of the day, like early mornings or evenings.
- However much your pooch loves to sunbathe, it’s best to keep them shaded in the summer heat. Avoid walking on hot pavement or tarmac – you can check by placing your hand on it for a few seconds. Dogs can get severe burns from this. Remember, if it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for their paws.
- To keep cool on walks, use a cooling coat (yes, such a thing exists!).
- Don’t wrap your dog in a damp towel – the water warms up very quickly and can cause more harm.
How to keep cats cool
- Many cats spend time outside roaming and are usually well equipped to seek out shade and shelter from the sun. If your cat is one of these, make sure that you have a cat flap that is accessible for them at all times so that they can come back inside to escape the sun.
- Always have fresh drinking water available for your cat. Consider leaving a full bowl outside in your garden in the shade, as well as inside, in case your cat can’t get back into the house and needs a drink.
- Cat water fountains are great to encourage drinking more often, as many cats prefer to drink from a running water source.
- Another thing to consider is a cooling mat, which can help to regulate temperature when your pet lies on them.
- If you feed your cat wet food, make sure it is kept in the fridge at all times other than when feeding it to your cat. If it is left out of the fridge, dispose of it and put down fresh next time – this is to prevent flies laying eggs in it or the food spoiling.
Seasonal allergies
While allergies can flare up at any point in the year, some tend to heighten in the spring and summer months, like hives, hay fever or allergic reactions to flea bites.
If your pet has sudden swelling or redness of the face, throat, lips, eyelids, or earflaps, you should pay a visit to your vet. Having the correct diagnosis and treatment will help relieve your pet’s symptoms.
