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Keeping pets safe in the summer heat

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  2. Keeping pets safe in the summer heat

Summer is here, and while we're keen to make the most of the hot, sunny weather while it lasts, our pets can often struggle in the heat. Luckily, there’s lots of things we can do to keep them cool and help them enjoy the summer – here are our top tips for:

  • Dogs
  • Cats
  • Rabbits
  • Guinea Pigs
  • Pond Fish

If you suspect that your pet is suffering from heat stroke, seek veterinary attention immediately.
 

Dogs

Plan your walks 
Avoid walking your dog if the weather is hot as dogs are not able to cope in the heat as well as humans can. Even a warm day can predispose dogs to overheating, especially if they’re exercising. Consider if your dog may be safer going for a gentle walk very early or late in the evening when the temperature has significantly reduced or do some stimulating activities at home. Be mindful of the weather when planning a walk and take regular breaks in the shade.

Your dog won't die if they miss a walk - so maybe consider not taking them at all during the days of extreme heat.

Always remember water
Water is essential for your dog all year round, especially on a hot day. If you're out and about with your dog, make sure you always have a bottle of water and a bowl for them to drink from.

Look out for signs of heat stroke
Dogs suffer with heatstroke when they overheat. Heatstroke develops when a dog can't reduce their body temperature and it can be fatal. This can happen not just when it’s hot but also in warm temperatures. It is important to know how to avoid it and be aware of the signs as it requires urgent veterinary treatment.

Any dog can develop heatstroke, but overweight, young, elderly, flat-faced, giant-breed, and thick-coated dogs are particularly at risk, even from just sitting out in hot weather.

Signs of heatstroke include:

  • Heavy panting
  • Lethargy
  • Confusion or loss of coordination
  • Drooling or foaming at the mouth
  • Vomiting or diarrhoea
  • Shaking or weakness
  • Seizures

If you think your dog has heatstroke, you need to ACT FAST. Make sure you contact your vet immediately. While contacting the vets:

  • Move the dog to a shaded and cool area
  • Keep them calm and still
  • Put them on top of a cool wet towel, cooling mat or place them in the breeze of a fan
  • Allow the dog to drink small amounts of cool water
  • Pour cool water over the dog’s feet, ears and head. Never use ice or very cold water as this can cause shock
  • Gradually start to move cool water over their body but not too much that they start shivering.
  • If possible, continue cooling your dog on the way to your vet

Protect your dog's paws from hot surfaces
Surfaces which heat up in the sun, such as tarmac or sand, can be painful for your dog’s paws. If in doubt, check for yourself. If it feels too hot for you to touch, the chances are your dog's thinking the same, so try to stick to grassy or shaded areas instead.

Use up their energy in different ways
In warmer weather it’s a good idea to find ways to use up your dog’s mental and physical energy which are less strenuous. For example, if they usually like to run for hours at a time this could be detrimental in hotter temperatures. Instead, you could hide their toys or treats in a small area and let them sniff them out, or you could freeze their food or use frozen treats in toys or food puzzle toys to keep them stimulated. You could also use toys or treats to encourage your dog to spend some time in a shaded paddling pool. Whatever activities you choose, make sure they are calm and out of the heat.

DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS! Never leave dogs in cars
Leaving a dog alone in a hot car can be fatal – even parked in the shade with the windows open, dogs can become distressed and uncomfortable and develop heat stroke very quickly. Make sure you always have a plan, so your dog isn't left alone in the car or any other enclosed spaces. If you see a dog in a hot car, dial 999.

You should avoid travelling in your car with your dog on a hot day. If you do need to travel, make sure that you use shade covers on the windows, so they don’t have direct sun on them whilst you are travelling. If possible cool your car down and have the air conditioning on before putting your dog in. Avoid travelling at hotter times of the day and consider travelling when there is less traffic, so you don’t get stuck for long periods of time. Ensure your dog has access to water throughout the journey - there are some great non-splash travel bowls available on the market.

Be careful letting them swim
It can be tempting to encourage your dog to swim, especially when the weather is warmer. Be mindful that some places can be unsafe and might have strong currents that can be dangerous, or algae and bacteria which could make your dog sick.

Instead, try to find clear, clean shallow streams your dog can paddle in briefly to cool off, ensure you provide them with separate clean water in a water bowl for them to drink and continue with your walk in the coolest parts of the day.

SOURCE:  www.battersea.org.uk/pet-advice/dog-care-advice/summer-dog-care
 

Cats

If you're worried that your cat is suffering from heatstroke, contact your vet immediately.

It’s also a good idea to check your outbuildings and cars for cats before you close them, even if you don’t own any pets yourself. Cats are often inquisitive and can sneak inside if windows and doors are left open, leaving them trapped in a small space that could become dangerously hot.

Top cooling tips
It can be tricky to know how to keep your cat cool – especially if they love exploring outside. However, from creating a shaded spot, to providing cold snacks, there’s lots you can do to help them!

Create shade
Creating a shady spot outside is a great way to help keep your outdoor explorer cool. Trees and shrubs make great natural shade for garden-loving kitties. Alternatively, you could try making your own shady spot by hanging sheets/blankets, or make your own ‘DIY sun den’.

Don’t forget to provide shaded spaces both outside and inside of the house by closing curtains and blinds to protect your cat from the sun indoors.

Plenty of water
It might sound simple but making sure that your cat has plenty of access to clean, fresh water is one of the most important ways to keep them cool and protect them from dehydration.

Always make sure that there are plenty of water bowls both inside and outside of the house, so your feline friend doesn’t have to venture far to find a refreshing drink. This is particularly important if you have more than one cat, as they often don’t like to share bowls! Try to position food and water bowls away from each other too.

Many cats prefer to drink running water, so you might want to think about getting pet fountains.

Dawn and dusk
On very warm or humid days, you might want to encourage your cat to stay home and out of the sun during the hottest part of the day. This is really important if you think your cat is at high risk of heatstroke or sunburn. If forecast is set to be very warm, make sure your cat can head out to explore in the early morning and at evening when the weather is likely to be cooler.

You can also encourage them to nap indoors during the hotter parts of the day by playing with them at dawn and dusk, and offering their breakfast a little later to tempt them to come home before it gets too warm!

Protect your cat from the sun
It’s not just us who are at risk of sunburn – our feline friends can be too! Although fur is a great sun barrier, cats can still get sunburnt especially on thin furred areas or areas with no fur, such as the ears and nose. Cats that are hairless, such as Sphynx cats, or light in colour such as ginger or white cats, are especially at risk.

Protecting cats from sunburn is vital, as it can lead to a skin cancer called Squamous Cell Carcinoma. When the weather is hot and you’re lathering sun cream on your own skin, remember to protect the exposed areas on your cat with pet-safe sun cream too, especially if they might be more vulnerable to sun damage. You can further protect your cat by creating plenty of shaded areas for them to snooze in.

Create a cool room
A great way of protecting your cat from the heat, is to create a cool, enticing room indoors for them to snooze in!

A simple way of doing this is to close the curtains on the hot side of the house and create a refreshing breeze with fans and open windows. Just remember that cats are curious, so put netting across any high windows to prevent accidents, and make sure that the fans are out of reach so they can’t be knocked over by mischievous paws!

You can also tempt your cat with a refreshing place to kick back and keep cool by providing cold ceramic tiles, or a cooling mat for them to lay on.

Remember that it’s important to keep your cat out of rooms that are likely to get very hot on warm days – especially spaces such as sheds, greenhouses, summerhouses, conservatories, porches, cars and caravans. Always check before you close hot rooms – if your cat is trapped with nowhere to cool down, it’s likely to result in a serious case of heatstroke!

Ice, ice, ice
Contrary to popular belief, ice can be a good and safe way to help keep your cat cool – not to mention it’s refreshing and fun!

The possibilities are endless with ice-filled fun – you can provide ice cubes to bat around the floor, give frozen treats, or even pop a few ice cubes in their water bowl!

SOURCE: www.pdsa.org.uk/what-we-do/blog/top-tips-for-keeping-your-cat-cool-in-summer 
 

Rabbits

Rabbits can overheat very quickly, particularly those kept in wooden hutches and sheds outdoors which can heat up extremely rapidly.  Sadly, heatstroke is fatal in most cases, so it’s essential that rabbit owners take the necessary steps to prevent this.

Steps include moving hutches into the shade and providing cooling ice blocks and fans to regulate temperatures.

Signs of heatstroke include lethargy, panting, reddening of the ears and convulsions.  If you suspect that your rabbit has heatstroke you must seek veterinary help immediately.

Top 10 tips to keep rabbits cool in summer
1.    Move your rabbits' hutch out of the sun into a cooler place (this may even be inside)
2.    A fan can be used to keep the air cool and create airflow, however, do not blow the fan directly onto the rabbits and ensure they have enough room to move away if they wish. Cover any wires with rabbit-proof covering to avoid your pet chewing on dangerous electrics. A cold, rung out towel can be placed over the run to provide shade and the fan can be blown onto this to help lower the temperature. Be careful to not cover the whole hutch as the rabbits will still need airflow to keep cool and ensure that the towel isn't dripping wet to avoid drenching your rabbits.
3.    Rabbits are not good swimmers so please don’t encourage them to jump in a pool as the shock could even prove fatal. Instead, try freezing a large bottle of water or ice packs and wrapping them in an old, clean tea towel and place in the hutch. That way, if your rabbits feel hot, they can lie next to the bottle to keep cool.
4.    Consider purchasing a special self-cooling mat which can be placed on the floor of the hutch or run to lower temperatures and provide respite from the heat
5.    Marble tiles or slates are brilliant to introduce into a run and keep it cool so your rabbits can lie on it if needed. Be careful to ensure the tiles remain in the shade, though, as the tiles can become extremely hot if placed in direct sunlight.
6.    Ensure your rabbits have plenty of fresh, cool water to stay hydrated
7.    Consider soaking your rabbits' leafy greens in icy water or serve fresh from the fridge so that they're nice and cold
8.    Rabbits in the wild live in warrens which are deep underground. By digging soil and getting out of the sunlight rabbits can keep cool. Consider introducing a man-made warren in the run to keep your rabbit happy and cool.
9.    Use a brush to get rid of any excess fur which will make them feel hotter and more uncomfortable in the heat
10.    Dampen your rabbit’s ears with a wet cloth or a fine mist (if they're comfortable with you doing this). They lose heat through their ears so this will speed up the cooling process.

IMPORTANT – Fly Strike
Rabbits are at higher risk of myiasis, or fly strike, during the summer months - particularly those that have issues keeping themselves clean due to old age, arthritis or dental problems. Make sure your rabbits and their bedding is clean at all times. Flies may quickly lay eggs on soiled bedding and the resulting maggots can burrow into your pet's fur and body cavity, which is potentially fatal.

Symptoms of heatstroke in rabbits:

  • Weakness and lethargy
  • Panting
  • Reddening of the ears
  • Salivating
  • Confusion
  • Convulsions

If you suspect your rabbit is suffering from heatstroke, do not submerge your them in cold water as the shock can be fatal. Instead, dampen their fur and ears with cool water and seek veterinary attention immediately.

SOURCE: www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/rabbit/how-to-keep-your-rabbits-cool-in-the-summer-heat
 

Guinea Pigs

Guinea pigs can overheat very quickly, particularly those kept in wooden hutches and sheds outdoors which can heat up extremely rapidly.  Sadly, heatstroke can be fatal, so it’s essential that guinea pig owners take steps to prevent this.

These include moving hutches into the shade and providing cooling ice blocks and fans to regulate temperatures.

If you suspect that your guinea pig has heatstroke you must seek veterinary help immediately.

Top 10 tips to keep guinea pigs cool in the heat

  1. Move your guinea pigs' hutch out of the sun into a cooler place, either in a shady spot, under a parasol or ideally inside your home in a cool room out of direct sunlight
  2. A fan can be used to keep the air cool and create airflow, however, do not blow the fan directly onto the guinea pigs and ensure they have enough room to move away if they wish. A cold, rung out towel can be placed over the run to provide shade and the fan can be blown onto this to help lower the temperature. Be careful to not cover the whole hutch as the guinea pigs will still need airflow to keep cool and ensure that the towel isn't dripping wet to avoid drenching them. Cooling hutch covers can also be purchased.
  3. Try freezing a large bottle of water or ice packs and wrapping them up securely in an old, clean towel and place in the hutch. That way, if your guinea pigs feel hot, they can lie next to the bottle to keep cool.
  4. Consider purchasing a special self-cooling mat which can be placed on the floor of the hutch or run to lower temperatures and provide respite from the heat
  5. Marble tiles or slates are brilliant to introduce into a run and keep it cool so your guinea pigs can lie on it if needed. Be careful to ensure the tiles remain in the shade, though, as the tiles can become extremely hot if placed in direct sunlight.
  6. Ensure your guinea pigs have plenty of fresh, cool water to stay hydrated and check regularly that the water spout isn't blocked. Provide more than one source.
  7. Consider soaking your guinea pigs' leafy greens in icy water or serve fresh from the fridge. Hydrating vegetables such as cucumber can be fed in moderation (too much can cause tummy problems) to add more water to your guinea pigs' diet at times of extreme heat.
  8. Consider introducing a man-made burrow in your guinea pigs' enclosure for them to go down into out of the sun or introduce hideouts for them to cool down in, but avoid any shelters made from plastic as these can get too hot
  9. Brush out any excess fur which can particularly affect long-haired guinea pigs and will make them feel hotter and more uncomfortable in the heat
  10. Dampen their fur with a tepid cloth to help them cool down or, if they are comfortable with it, spray a fine water mist (you'll need to do this gently and at a distance at first)

Symptoms of heatstroke in guinea pigs:

  • Weakness and lethargy
  • Restlessness
  • Panting
  • Salivating
  • Confusion
  • Convulsions

If you suspect that one of your guinea pigs is suffering from heatstroke, do not submerge your them in cold water as the shock can be fatal. Instead, dampen their fur with cool, but not freezing, water and seek veterinary attention immediately.

Important – Fly Strike
Guinea pigs are at higher risk of myiasis, or fly strike, during the summer months - particularly those that have issues keeping themselves clean due to old age, arthritis or dental problems. Make sure your guinea pigs and their bedding is clean at all times. Flies may quickly lay eggs on soiled bedding and the resulting maggots can burrow into your pet's fur and body cavity, which is potentially fatal.

SOURCE: www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/guinea-pig/how-to-keep-guinea-pigs-cool-in-the-heat
 

Pond Fish

Protecting pond fish from extreme heat is very important during the summer months. Heat waves can be hazardous to ponds because they cause increased evaporation and photosynthesis which is undesirable to many species of fish.

Top 10 tips for protecting fish from summer heat:

  1. Keep water oxygenated.
  2. Clear debris often.
  3. Don't overfeed fish.
  4. Watch water levels.
  5. Provide shade.
  6. Make sure your pond is at least 2 feet deep.
  7. Use biological filters and skimmers.
  8. Control algae.

www.fitzfishponds.com/blog/protecting-pond-fish-extreme-heat/
https://splashsupplyco.com/how-do-i-keep-my-pond-healthy-in-high-temepratures/ 
 

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