Why you must keep your pets cool in the summer heat
Top tips on how to look after our furry friends as temperatures soar.
All animals are susceptible to overheating and need constant access to both water and shade. Heat stress for pets can develop extremely quickly in hot weather. Your pet must always stay cool, hydrated, and safe.
Those pets most at risk:
- Those that are brachycephalic
- Those that have respiratory or heart problems
- Those that are overweight
- Those that have a long or heavy coat
- Those that are young or old
"If your animal is behaving unusually [on a hot day], that is an indicator to take them to the vet," the RSPCA says.
The RSPCA’s top 9 tips:
- Never leave an animal in a car or vehicle, even if the windows are down.
- Always provide your animals with cool, shaded areas with good ventilation.
- Ensure they can access clean, fresh water in containers that cannot be tipped over easily. Place this water in cool, shaded areas. You can also add ice to their water on hot days or give them refrigerated water.
- Provide extra water sources in case they accidentally spill some from their usual bowl.
- Bring your animals indoors if it is cooler there.
- Consider providing a water bath for species like dogs and birds.
- Think about whether cooling mats could work for your animal.
- Try freezing water in containers, wrap those containers in a towel and place a few throughout the house/enclosure, so your animal can lay close to them to cool down if they would like.
- Consider clipping your long or thick-haired animal's fur over the summer.
On hot days, walk the dog early in the morning or evening, and pay attention to the surfaces you are walking them on. Asphalt and hot sand can burn dogs' feet, just like ours.
For something fun, try giving your dog a frozen rubber toy stuffed with safe foods, which they can enjoy spending time with and licking and finding little surprises inside while cooling down at the same time.
Cats are generally pretty good at finding cool places and using as little energy as possible during the hottest parts of the day.
You can put out a cooling mat, or ensure they have access to the tiles in the bathroom or some shade in the garden.
Cats hate being drenched in water, but you can stroke them with a damp towel to help them cool down.
The experts say it is important to think about animals confined to enclosures on hot days.
At a minimum, ensure their enclosure is placed somewhere cool, shaded, and well-ventilated.
If you are experiencing a run of hot days and realise your pet's living conditions do not meet these standards, you may need to move them.
Running a pedestal fan near the coop or enclosure is also a good idea. Make sure they have the option to be in front of it, depending on how they are feeling.
This applies to chickens when they have eggs to hatch.
“Broody hens will subject themselves to very extreme conditions without moving, so it is important to monitor them closely," the RSPCA advises.
"You could also try putting some ice blocks in a part of the nesting boxes they can move closer to or away from."
Safe cooling treats can also help your animals cope with the heat. Chickens love frozen peas, corn, strawberries, cucumber, and watermelon. Not only does chopping up little bits of these help cool them down — they also provide enrichment and keep them entertained.
