It’s lovely to see the sunshine and have a real taste of summer this week. Make sure your pets stay happy and healthy in the heat with these top tips!
For dogs:
- Walk dogs early in the morning or later in the evening when temperatures are cooler
- Avoid over exertion on walks and take water and a bowl with you so your dog can rehydrate
- Check pavements aren’t too hot for your pooch’s paws! The RSPCA recommends the 5 second test – if it’s too hot to keep the palm of your hand on the pavement for 5 seconds, it’s too hot for paws!
- Provide lots of shade inside and outside
- Make sure your dog has access to cool fresh drinking water all day long
- Paddling pools and sprinklers are a great way to keep dogs cool
- Never leave a dog in a car, conservatory, caravan or outbuildings in warm weather as temperatures can soar quickly and lead to death
- Know how to spot heatstroke: symptoms include excessive panting, drooling, tiredness, lack of coordination, vomiting and loss of consciousness. Seek veterinary help immediately if you suspect your dog has heatstroke
For rabbits and small furries:
- Ensure hutches are kept out of the sun. Remember to take into account that the sun moves during the course of the day
- Make sure your small furries have lots of fresh cool water to stay hydrated
- Place ceramic tiles in the hutch and use frozen water bottles wrapped in tea towels
- Dampen rabbits’ ears with a cool cloth – they lose heat through their ears so this helps cool them down
- Use a brush to get rid of any excess fur for comfort
- Know how to spot heatstroke: symptoms include lethargy and heavy panting. In addition rabbits’ ears can redden and they may suffer convulsions. Guinea pigs may drool excessively. Seek veterinary help immediately if you suspect heatstroke
- Flystrike in rabbits is more common in hot weather. Flies are attracted to poo and messy back ends, lay eggs and the hatching maggots then feed off the rabbit’s flesh. Horrific and potentially fatal. Ensure bedding is kept clean. Check your rabbit’s back end twice daily. Talk to us about diet to ensure your rabbit is getting enough fibre. This prevents fly-attracting sloppy poo.
For cats:
Click here to check out our West Midlands Cat Clinic website blog for advice on ensuring your cat stays chilled this summer!