Chaseview Veterinary Clinic have issued the following advice on how to keep your pets safe during this heatwave:
Who feels warm? We are sure we are all suffering with some form of heat stress at the moment and our animals are at higher risk of that stress tipping over into heatstroke – it really is a very fine line.
Read below for a few handy tips to keep your pets safe:
• Don’t walk or exercise your dogs in the heat! Instead try walking them first thing in the morning or last thing at night.
• Before you walk test the pavement! If it’s too hot to hold your hand on for 5seconds, it’s too hot for your dogs’ paws!
• Make sure your pet has plenty of access to water and shade!
• If your dog likes water you can provide a paddling pool filled with cool (not cold) water.
• Dogs are well known to keep exercising to the point of collapse. Make sure to keep your dogs activity levels low.
• Try using cooling coats and matts – these are a wonderful invention!
• We know we shouldn’t need to say it but please don’t leave your dog in the car! Even with the windows open there’s not enough air circulating. It’s just too hot
• The most at risk animals are; young, old, overweight, pregnant and and our flat faced breeds. Some medical conditions can put your pet at higher risk of suffering with heat stress and heatstroke too.
BE HEATSTROKE AWARE
Signs of heatstroke are as follows;
Drooling
Lethargy
Heavy panting/difficulty breathing
Excessive thirst
Sickness/diarrhoea
Staggering/wobbling
Collapse
Heatstroke can be fatal. If you think your pet has heatstroke do not delay! Phone your veterinary clinic ASAP!
