Photo by Ildar Sagdejev (Wikimedia Commons)
Wearing a fur coat in the summer is no fun at all! Especially when there’s a heat wave on. So here are some quick, easy tips for making sure your kitty or puppy is comfortable:
* H2O: Lots of it! Make sure your animal has plenty of access to fresh, cool drinking water. This may mean you have to add extra water bowls and refill them more often in hot weather. Adding an ice cube or two is also a good idea, but you don’t want the water to become so cold that your animal won’t drink. How to judge? It should be cool enough to splash on your skin without being uncomfortable.
* Keep them indoors: This is true for both cats and dogs. As much as they might love to go out on adventures, when temperatures climb past 35 degrees Celsius, they’re much better off indoors. Preferably in a room with a fan to move the air about. Air conditioning can help, but most short-haired animals find it difficult to regulate body temperature with artificially cooled air, so be careful not to overdo it.
* Watch for signs of heat stroke: Cats and dogs can’t really sweat except through the pads of their paws. They generally regulate body temperature by panting or seeking shade. Any excessive panting, lethargy, drooling or anxiety (demonstrated by restless pacing) could be a sign of potentially life-threatening heat stroke. Ditto a fever (more than 103°F for both dogs and cats) or dark red gums.
If you see any of these signs, get a tub of cool water and use a washcloth to wipe your pet down. It is useful to have a fan in the room (but don’t point it directly at your pet or they might catch a chill). Then take your animal to the vet as soon as possible. Heat stroke can be fatal if not treated early.
* If your pet is white: You should know that white pets (or those with ears and faces that are very pale) are particularly prone to sunburn! Do NOT use sunblock on your pet (it’s toxic). Instead, encourage your animal to stay out of direct sunlight (which may mean you keep them indoors or walk them on the shady side of the street). Try and limit outdoor time to the early morning or late evenings.
* If your pet is black: They may not be prone to sunburn, but they will overheat faster than lighter coloured animals. So make sure they’re hydrated and stay away from direct sunlight.
* If your pet won’t drink: Sometimes, if an animal is seriously dehydrated or overheated, they lose the urge to drink. This is especially true of cats. In this case, use a needle-free syringe or dropper to dribble cool water into their mouth. You want to do this very slowly and not risk choking your pet. Go droplet by droplet and give them time to swallow. Usually your animal will drink a little this way and then walk over to their bowl.
* Don’t leave dogs in cars: C’mon people, you know this. It doesn’t matter if the windows are down. Cars and dogs can overheat surprisingly quickly and it’s a horrible way to die. So don’t. If you’re going somewhere your puppy is not welcome, just leave him at home.
*Create a cooling spa: For cats and dogs that don’t like to be wet, you can create a nice, cool sleeping area. Simply take a pillow case and stuff it about half full of rice. Sew it shut by hand, leaving enough room for the rice to move around a little. Then put it in the freezer for about 5 hours. Once it’s cold, wrap it in a towel and place it near your pet’s favourite sleeping spot. The rice will mold to your pet’s shape and allow them to get cool. Don’t skip the towel or your pet will get too cold!
Don’t have rice or forgot to freeze your pet spa? Just use a package of frozen peas wrapped in a towel. The benefit of making the rice bag is that it can also be used as a hot compress for the winter (just microwave it for 1-2 minutes!). That, and you won’t be wasting peas!
Additional reading: Here is some species-specific info on heat stroke for dogs and cats.
So there you go. Just some ideas for keeping our furry friends cool this summer. Do you have your own tips to share? We’d love to hear from you. Just leave us a comment or send us photos! info@evive.ca
Funny I gave my two a bath last night one of them was really swimming he loved it ! The other just stood there giving me the stink eye !
I actually bought a pad from a place in the states that you fill with cold water and chill then put a towel over it and is like a water bed . Again one of them lies and rolls on it on his back, the other one avoids it like the plague!!