Keeping Your Pets Safe in Warm Weather (23/10/2020)

The warm summer months can be uncomfortable and even dangerous for our beloved pets. Prevention is key to avoid any visits to your veterinary practice. Animals such as dogs, cats and even gerbils can’t sweat like humans, so when the temperature rises there’s an increased risk of your pets overheating.  Here at the Animal Health Company, we’re committed to animal care and we want to help you help your animals live a long, joyful and fruitful life. Fortunately, keeping pets cool in the heat is easy and you just need to follow our simple tips to keep your pets healthy and happy when the weather’s warm. 

Never leave your pets in a parked car

Not even for a minute. Not even with the car running and the air conditioner on. On a warm day, temperatures inside a vehicle can rise rapidly to dangerous levels. Animals pant to evaporate moisture from their lungs, which takes heat away from their body. If the temperature is too high, they are then unable to cool themselves, and their temperature will rise which can cause a serious problem.
 
Dogs and heat do not mix, so if you need to take your dog out of the house on a hot day, make sure that you take them out of your car and leave them in a shaded spot with plenty of water or ice cubes. This will help to keep your dog cool and avoid dehydration.
 
If your dog is suffering from dry and irritated skin this summer, try our medicated shampoo for dogs. This can be used with all breeds and helps to prevent dryness and flaking.

Limit exercise on hot days

Be mindful that you will need to adjust exercise on warmer days, which you can limit exercise to early morning or evening hours. Always carry fresh water with you to keep your dogs cool in hot weather.
 
The same goes for birds, small animals and cats in hot weather. If possible, try to keep them indoors in plenty of shade to limit their physical activity and keep them as cool as possible. 

Don't rely on a fan

Pets respond differently to heat than humans and dogs, for instance, sweat primarily through their feet. As a result, fans don’t cool animals off as effectively as they cool off humans, therefore, you shouldn’t use this as the main means of cooling off your pets. 

Provide ample shade and water

Any time your pet is outside, make sure he or she has protection from heat and sun and plenty of fresh, cold water. Trees are an ideal source of shade as it does not block any flow of wind or fresh air.

Watch for signs of heatstroke

Some signs of heatstroke in animals include:-

• Heavy panting 
• Glazed eyes
• A rapid heartbeat
• Difficulty breathing
  
• Excessive thirst
• Lethargy
• Fever
• Dizziness
• Lack of coordination
• Profuse salivation
• Vomiting
• A deep red or purple tongue 
• Seizure
• Unconsciousness

Animals have an increased risk of heatstroke if they are very old, young, overweight, not conditioned to prolonged exercise or if they have heart or respiratory disease. Some breeds of cat or dog will have a more difficult time trying to cool down, especially those with short noses or a long thick coat.

How to treat a pet suffering from heatstroke

Move your pet into the shade or an air-conditioned area. Apply ice packs or cold towels to their head, neck, and chest or run cool (not cold) water over them. Let her drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes. Take her directly to a veterinarian. Isotonic or isotonic powder can be used to rapidly rehydrate and will replace essential salts and minerals lost through dehydration.
 

Isotonic

We always recommend to keep Isotonic in your cupboards and also in your car when you travel. If you have an active dog who is used for working or show based events, our isotonic powder for dogs will prove invaluable to your pet, even on the days that are not warm. 
 
Isotonic offers rapid rehydration for pets and will replace any essential salts and minerals that have been lost through dehydration. Available in 100gm and 500gm.