(Credit: Camila Gómez and Bilbo)
As temperatures soar this summer in London, Ont. pet owners must take precautions to ensure pets remain cool and safe, mainly when no one is home to monitor on a real-time basis how much heat has gotten into the dwelling and when power outages occur.
Dr. Upendra Parmar, a White Oaks Animal Hospital veterinarian, says that if it feels hot to humans, it’s even hotter for pets. “Their fur makes them more susceptible to heat. Therefore, providing them with plenty of water is crucial and ensuring they have a cool and comfortable place to stay.”
(Credit: Mostafa Elkeraby and Bruno)
He recommends limiting pets’ physical activities and advises what to do if people have a cooling system. “Use fans and air conditioning or find a cooler spot in your home like the basement. Keeping blinds and curtains closed can help maintain a better indoor environment.”
Offering them cold water, ice cubes, or frozen treats can aid in holding their body temperature down, however, it is not beneficial to all. “These will help a lot if they can consume them and if they are used to that, although sometimes they can have fun, drink, or eat more, sometimes they do not like it,” he adds.
(Credit: Carolina Méndez and Frida)
All pets lose the body heat through panting. That mechanism helps to observe if the pet is feeling warm, but people make a mistake in providing ice or soaked fabrics on the skin. “That has a counterproductive effect which means that instead of getting cool, it will get hot. When we provide wet towels on them or deep them into the water container, the fine blood vessel of the skin shrinks and the blood supply to the skin is reduced. This will lead to retaining of that heat extraction time, and it can kill the pet if they have a heat stroke.”
(Credit: Laura Moreno and Nala)
Dr. Parmar also highlights the importance of checking pets for signs of dehydration or heat stress. Excessive panting, collapsing, or refusal to move are indicators that a pet is overheated. “Walks should be scheduled for early morning or evening, avoiding moves at noon or peak heat times. It is important to know how the weather is going to be on a weekly or daily basis if there is any weather-related advisory. Never leave pets in the car, even for short periods.”
It is essential to be prepared for any emergency like power outages and keep any medications within reach. Pets with heart and lung diseases or any breathing struggle need special attention.
“Any breed of dog or cat that has brachycephalic (they cannot breathe properly because their tongue and mouth area are so squished that they will have more difficulty losing the heat) should not be alone during daytime since the hot weather is not for them. Their respiratory issue should be prevented from getting worse.”
