The summer temperatures are not only hard for people, animals are also hot these days. That is why it is important to take good care of your pets. NH provides tips below on how to keep your loyal companion comfortable during the summer, based on the Animal Protection and Animal Ambulance.
Dogs
With dogs you can quickly see that they are hot: their tongue hangs out of their mouth and they pant heavily. That is about the only way for the dog to cool down, because they hardly sweat.
But how do you know if your four-legged friend is too hot? You’ll notice that soon enough too. He reacts slowly, cannot walk well and has warm ears and soles of his feet, red mucous membranes and a swollen tongue.
How do you provide cooling for your dog?
- Provide a spot in the shade with plenty of fresh drinking water.
- Let your dog swim or spray him with the garden hose. Cooling and fun!
- Avoid long walks and plan walking in the morning or evening when it has cooled down. Also beware of hot asphalt.
- Apply sunscreen to sparsely coated areas for dogs with a thin coat.
- Invest in a cooling mat or cooling collar.
- Never leave your dog in the car, not even in the shade with a window open. According to animal protection, this can be fatal after just 10 minutes.
Cats
Overheating is less likely to occur in cats than in dogs, but at temperatures of around 30 degrees you should also pay close attention to your mustachioed housemate. Overheating in cats can be recognized by drooling, lethargy, panting or rapid breathing, little or no desire to eat and vomiting. How do you keep your cat cool?
- Cats are often smart enough to find a cool spot themselves. If you do not have this in or around your house, provide a spot in the shade and provide plenty of fresh drinking water.
- Mirjam from Amstelland Animal Ambulance – De Ronde Venen also says that you should pay extra close attention to your sick cat. “Problems with the kidneys or thyroid are sometimes confused with old age. These cats lose weight and at a certain point they die from exhaustion. This always happens more in warm or cold weather.”
According to her, you can easily check what is going on with your emaciated cat by having blood drawn at the vet.
Guinea pigs, rats and hamsters
Guinea pigs, rats and hamsters can also quickly suffer from the heat. You notice that they are overheating due to lethargy, visibly rapid breathing, little or no desire to eat and little or no response to the environment.
How do you provide cooling for your rodent?
- Never place the cage in the sun.
- Give rodents such as guinea pigs some vegetables a few times a day for extra moisture.
- Give them a haircut and cut the hair of your long-haired guinea pigs a little shorter.
- Place a small bowl of water in the cage for them to lie down in.
- Provide cooling elements, such as frozen water bottles (wrapped in a tea towel so that your animal does not freeze to them) or cold stones. You can also place the plastic cage box on a few freezer elements.
Rabbits
Rabbits are naturally accustomed to living underground and therefore get warm quickly at high temperatures. The biggest indication of overheating in rabbits is behavior. Is he sluggish, does he eat little, does he have red mucous membranes and eyelids and do his ears feel warm? Then Thumper is too hot.
This is how you ensure that your rabbit can survive the heat well:
- Make sure the cage is not in the sun. You can cool an outdoor cage by placing a wet, white cloth over it.
- Place cooling elements in the cage. You can also easily make this yourself by putting bottles of water in the freezer. Wrap them in a tea towel before putting them in the cage.
- Make sure the cage is extra clean. Poop attracts blowflies and their maggots cause blood poisoning. Without a quick visit to the vet, it can be fatal after two days.
