Pets also suffer when the temperature rises in the summertime. They require extra care when the temperatures get extremely high and extra steps should be taken to insure their safety and well being. Yours pets are dependent upon you to provide additional “cooling” measures to insure their survival.
Always make sure your pets have plenty of “cool” water to drink. Make sure to keep their water in a shady place with easy access. Proper air circulation is also a must. Have an open area with lots of shade for them to find a place out of direct sunlight. If possible, a fan of some sort to help increase the air circulation will also help. Do not leave your pets in confined areas that can heat up rapidly during the summer heat. Cooling baths or showers will also help your pets to stay cool during the heat.
Caution: Never leave your pets inside a vehicle during the heat of summer. Summer temperatures can quickly reach extreme levels inside vehicles and needlessly endanger the life of your pet.
Signs of Heat Problems in Pets
1.) Excessive drooling or very rapid panting.
2.) Hot or excessively warm skin.
3.) Muscle spasms and twitching.
4.) Stunned or dazed look.
5.) Unresponsive or listless behavior.
If you think your pet, whether it’s a dog, cat, rabbit, etc, is showing signs of heat related stress or illness, you should seek help from a qualified veterinarian immediately.
Staying above the water line!
Riverwalker
Posts
10 comments:
Good post RW, a kiddie pool under a shade tree works great, my golden digs and lays in the clay on the side of my house. I just wet it down every am and he's there when I get home.
To: sanjac
I keep a large tub for the wife's lab to jump in and out of during the day and keep one side of the garage where there is shade soaked pretty good to give her a cool spot to lay down. Thanks.
RW
This is a great post. I really don't think people understand how hot pets can get. I live around Dallas so I know how horrible Texas heat is.
To: Katlin
Our dogs are a part of the family and are a really important part of our family. Thanks.
RW
During the mid day summer heat time, my wife will give our chickens in their chicken tractor some refrigerated water so they can drink and cool down some. We also tie a tarp on top so they get plenty of shade, but still get the wind. A little water splashed upwind of their pen is done - wind passing over cooled soil / vegetation has a little effect.
Doesn't stop them from digging little foxholes to cool down - but I think it helps a mite. And they keep laying the eggs which are appreciated by us - fresh eggs are GOOD!
Our dog gets a similar treat of cold water too. This is a great post RW - our animal friends really help us out, and it is our responsibility to make their lives as comfortable as we can possibly do.
To: anonymous 6:11
My son puts a fan out for the chickens when it gets really hot (similar to what commercial chicken growers do in the big poultry houses). Uses tarps also to create more shade. Thanks.
RW
When you see cheap fans at the dollar store, or flea market, buy enough to have a few in the house, in purses, BOBs, and in your cars. They did help our pets, as well as us, while evacuating Rita during 100 temps without AC (how many of your vehicles could run the AC while in gridlock?) I also used a spray bottle.
To: shreela
Great tips on the fans and the spray bottle! Thanks.
RW
On the really hot, sunny days, I "water" my cats. What I do is take a large glass of cool to cold water, snag a cat, cup my hand in the water and splash it around their throat/neck area and the top of their heads. Of course, being cats, they don't much like this while it is going on, but they DO appreciate it a few minutes later when they shake off the excess and are remarkably cooled off. They then spend some time grooming and proceed into a cat's most important work: napping. Makes for happy cats. :)
HM
To: Patricia
It seems most cats don't like to get wet but will appreciate being cooled off after the deed is done. Great tip for keeping the little furballs cool!
Thanks.
RW
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