Image by: Kayla Ross
Hot, sunny weather can cause health issues for our fur babies. Check out these top tips for tackling toasty temperatures.
Summer is on the way, which (hopefully) means warm, sunny weather. But, what does it mean for our pets?
The summer heat can cause drastic health issues. Keep an eye out for excessive panting, difficulty breathing, weakness and drooling.
Like humans, dogs, cats and rabbits do not sweat as a primary source of cooling down, so they need a little bit of extra help from us!
Top tips for tackling toasty temperatures to keep your pets healthy and happy while the sun is shining:
Take care whilst exercising. If the concrete is too hot for you to walk on in bare feet, it is too hot for a dog to walk on. Avoid long walks and too much sun exposure and ensure your animals all have access to plenty of fresh water.
Provide shelter for small animals. Make sure small animals, such as rabbits and guinea pigs, have plenty of shelter. This group of animals are particularly prone to heatstroke, so prevention is crucial. Providing ice packs wrapped in tea towels is also a great way to cool them down.
Annelise's bunnies Ash and Theo enjoying their ice packs. Image by: Annelise Brebner.
Avoid hot cars. If it is 22 degrees celsius outside, then a car can get up to 40 degrees celsius in just 10 minutes!
Groom your pet. If you have a long haired pet, ensure they are groomed before summer as this can cause them to overheat.
Pick the right shade. Shade is essential for all species, but shade that has air flow, such as tarpaulins and kennels, can get too stuffy.
