Pets & hot weather

PRINCESSX87

Afternoon all,

I know we all care about our pets - But i thought i would add this as information should anyone need it. I have tried finding as much as i can about all animals!

I hope this helps.

DOGS:- INFORMATION VIA RSPCA:-

Don't leave your dog alone in a car.
If it’s very warm outside and you’re going out in the car, think very carefully about what you are going to do with your dog. You should never leave a dog alone in a car.It can get unbearably hot in a car on a sunny day, even when it’s not that warm. In fact, when it’s 22°C/72°F outside, the temperature inside a car can soar to 47°C/117°F within 60 minutes.

Unlike humans, dogs pant to help keep themselves cool. In a hot stuffy car, dogs can’t cool down – leaving a window open or a sunshield on your windscreen won’t keep your car cool enough. Dogs die in hot cars.

Under the Animal Welfare Act you now have a legal duty to care for your animal and if you put your animal at risk, you could face prosecution. You would also have to live with the fact that your thoughtless action resulted in terrible suffering for your pet.

If you see a dog in a car on a warm day please call the Police on 999. For more information read our FAQ.

Heatstroke - early warning signs

Heatstroke can be fatal. Do everything you can to prevent it.
Some dogs are more prone to heatstroke. For example, dogs with short snouts, fatter or heavily muscled dogs and long-haired breeds, as well as very old or very young dogs. Dogs with certain diseases are more prone to heatstroke, as are dogs on certain medication.

If dogs are unable to reduce their body temperature, they will develop heatstroke. There are some signs to look for:

• heavy panting
• profuse salivation
• a rapid pulse
• very red gums/tongue
• lethargy
• lack of coordination
• reluctance or inability to rise after collapsing
• vomiting
• diarrhoea
• loss of consciousness in extreme circumstances.

Heatstroke - first aid

If your dog shows any symptoms of heatstroke, move him/her to a shaded, cool area and ring your vet for advice immediately. Heatstroke can be fatal and should always be treated as an emergency.

Dogs suffering from heatstroke urgently need to have their body temperature gradually lowered:

• Immediately douse your dog with cool (not cold) water, to avoid shock – you could put your dog in a shower and run cool water over him/her, or use a spray filled with cool water and place your dog in the breeze of a fan.
• Let your dog drink small amounts of cool water.
• Continue to douse your dog with cool water until his/her breathing starts to settle – never cool your dog so much that he/she begins to shiver.

Once you have cooled your dog down you should take him/her straight to the veterinary surgery.

Top tips for warm weather

• Your dog should always be able to move into a cooler, ventilated environment if he/she is feeling hot.
• Never leave your dog alone in a car. If you want to take your dog with you on a car journey, make sure that your destination is dog-friendly – you won’t be able to leave your dog in the car and you don’t want your day out to be ruined!
• If you have to leave your dog outside, you must provide a cool shady spot where he/she can escape from the sun at all times of the day.
• Make sure your dog always has a good supply of drinking water, in a weighted bowl that can’t be knocked over. Carry water with you on hot days and give your dog frequent small amounts.
• Never leave your dog in a glass conservatory or a caravan. Even if it is cloudy when you leave, the sun may come out later in the day and make it unbearably hot.
• Groom your dog regularly to get rid of excess hair. Give long-coated breeds a haircut at the start of the summer, and later in the season, if necessary.
• Dogs need exercise - even when it is hot. Walk your dog early in the morning or later in the evening. Never allow your dog to exercise excessively in hot weather.
• Dogs can get sunburned too – particularly those with light-coloured noses or light-coloured fur on their ears. Ask your vet for advice on pet-safe sunscreen.

CATS:- information via the cat site.com

Keeping Cats Cool




Any cat fancier will tell you that their cat is cool. But when the temperature starts to rise, how do you keep your cat cool? How do you prevent heat stroke from occurring, and if it does occur, what do you do about it?
Unlike [COLOR=#996600 !important][FONT=inherit !important][COLOR=#996600 !important][FONT=inherit !important]dogs[/FONT][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR], cats do not sweat by panting. They instead sweat through their paws. On a hot summer's day, you may notice your cat has taken to groom himself more than usual. This is how they cool down. By licking themselves, and leaving the saliva on their fur, when the saliva finally evaporates off the fur, the cat's temperature goes down.
[COLOR=#996600 !important][FONT=inherit !important][COLOR=#996600 !important][FONT=inherit !important]Cats[/FONT][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR] will seek cool places to lie down in when they get to hot. Common areas are; sinks, bathtubs, litter pans, potted houseplants, shady tile floors or parked in front of the fan or the air conditioner.
If your home reaches 90 degrees, your cat will begin panting. This is your cat's way of exchanging heat inside his body with the cooler air outside. Cats will also pant when they are frightened or scared.
Your cat's temperature should be 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. The only accurate way to determine if your cat is running a fever is to take his temperature using a rectal thermometer, or one of the newer ear thermometers.
Recently, we asked the readership of our newsletter KittyBytes...
"How do you keep your cats cool?"

Let's look at some of the responses:

• I keep lovye [my furchild] cool by putting a pan of ice in front of her personal fan. The fan blows cool air across to her. Plus I let her lie on damp towels
• My friend and I take care of a family of ferals (outdoors) as well as a houseful of indoor cats...you can well imagine the challenge of keeping everyone happy and cool...
• We use the dog as a status of 'cool' ...if the dog pants more than usual, we figure the cats are even hotter...
• We put ice cubes in the water bowls throughout the day.
• We have ice packs that we put in pillow cases and often some of the cats will sleep on or near the 'ice' pillow.
• We have window air conditioners so they may not cool as well as say central air, to move things along. We have a few fans around the house at the floor level (this pushes the cool air around more and raises the hot air out.
• We have one room on the top floor where we leave the window a crack open so that hot air can exit the house (no it's not wasting air conditioning it's actually helping cause hot air rises and cold air drops).
• We change their water daily.
• Two of our cats are extremely thick and long haired...they get a 'lion' cut just before the major heat...
• In very hot weather, I put an ice cube in each water bowl. The kitties love this. Also I get all their bellies shaved for the summer. I raise Persians so getting rid of all that hair makes them more comfortable. The adult males also get lion cuts.
• To keep my 3 moggies cool in very hot weather I leave out plenty of fresh water with a few ice blocks in to keep it cool a bit longer.
• I also stand them (one at a time) in the laundry sink in 2 inches of cold water, After the initial shock you can watch as their eyes cross in delight as their temperature drops. I will also wipe them down with wet hands every now again, which has a double bonus of cooling them down and having a much needed pat.
• I have 8 cats and I keep them cool by putting ice cubes in their water and leaving 2 air conditioners on for them on low all day long. My mother-in-law checks in on them a couple of times a day as she lives downstairs and loves them just as much as I do.
• I always wet a couple of paper towels with cold water and wet my babies from head to toe. They see the towel coming and they run over because they know it is going to cool them off. They even roll on their back so I can wet their stomach. I also make sure I keep filling their water bowl with ice cubes to keep the water nice and cool.

Rabbits: INFORMATION VIA RABBIT. ORG

Introduction
It is especially important to remember to keep an eye on your rabbit during the summer months. Rabbits do not tolerate heat well and can actually die from being overheated. Each rabbit will tolerate heat differently and it is important to observe your rabbit daily. How do I keep my rabbit cool?

• Make sure bunny is out of the sun. If they are confined to a cage or small room for part of the day, be sure that there is plenty of shady space for the bunny to rest.
• Set up a circulating fan that will breeze past your rabbit without blowing directly on him all day. You can also drape a damp towel over part of the cage so the fan will blow through the towel and create cooler air. Be sure to bunny-proof the fan cord!
• Place a ceramic tile or marble square in the cage or in bun's favorite place. The marble or tile stays cool for them to lie on.
• Place a few ice cubes in their water crock so the water is tempting and they can also lie against the cool crock.
• Mist the rabbit's ears. Rabbits dissipate heat through their ears and misting them will help keep the rabbit cool.
• Brush out excessive fur. Who wants to wear an extra fur coat in the summer? If you have a long haired rabbit, consider cropping your bunny's coat short for the summer months.
• Fill 1 or 2 liter soda bottles with water and freeze them. Once frozen, put the frozen water bottle in Bun's cage so he can lean against it to keep cool. Keep a few of these on hand in your freezer.
• Be sure Bun is getting his fair share of veggies to help keep him hydrated. See HRS Veggie list on web page.
• Be especially watchful of rabbits over 5 years old or ones who are overweight or incapacitated. These rabbits tend to be more sedentary and may not get up to drink water if they are too hot. This can quickly lead to dehydration which can lead to death or other health problems.

What do I do if my rabbit experiences heat stroke?
DO NOT submerge him in cold water. This could place the rabbit in shock.
Dampen his ears and body with cool water.
GET HIM TO YOUR VETERINARIAN OR EMERGENCY CLINIC IMMEDIATELY. DO NOT WAIT! What other concerns arise in warm weather?
Fly Strike. As the weather warms, flies can strike and kill a healthy animal who has temporary loose stools, but at particular risk are aging, disabled, long-haired or overweight rabbits who are not able to clean themselves. Within 24 hours, rabbits can enter a terminal state of shock due to maggot infestation. Moisture, warmth, and odor attract flies. If open sores are present, or if thick fur is dampened with urine or feces, flies will head toward these warm incubation areas to lay their eggs. The chances are greater if the rabbit is outside, but it only takes one fly indoors to do the damage. Maintaining a watchful eye, keeping your bunny dry and (if needed) short-even-shaved are the most critical preventitive steps. More fly strike info...



Horse's: INFORMATION VIA EHOW

1. Cooling out after a workout
   
   
   • 1 To prevent your horse from overheating when you ride during the hottest part of the year, ride in the early morning or late in the evening when it is coolest. If the temperature and humidity are both high, avoid hard riding.
     
     
   • 2 You may want to add electrolytes to your horse's feed to help offset those that he will lost through sweat.
     
     
   • 3 You can help keep your horse cool during your ride by hosing his chest and legs down before you ride and by sponging water on him during your workout.
     
     
   • 4 Once you are done working your horse but before you dismount, walk him for a few minutes to begin cooling him out.
     
     
   • 5 Dismount and loosen the girth or cinch. Walk him for a minute or two before untacking him.
     
     
   • 6 After removing his saddle and bridle, give him a drink of water. It is a myth that horses cannot drink when they're hot - they shouldn't drink unlimited water, but a few drinks will help cool them off.
     
     
   • 7 Hose your horse off, starting with his legs and working up his body. Be sure to hose under his tail and hose his face if he will let you. If you do not have a hose, use a sponge and bucket and sponge him down.
     
     
   • 8 If your horse is especially hot, you may want to scrap the excess water off of him and hose him down again to aid cooling. On your final hose-down, do not scrap the water off and leave him wet. As the water evaporates, it will help him cool off.
     
     
   • 9 Some people like to use lineament on their horse after hosing him down to help ease muscles.
     
     
   • 10 Walk your horse slowly until his breathing and heart-rate return to normal. You can walk him next to you or put him on a hot walker. Once he's cooled down and breathing and heart-rate have returned to normal, you can put him in his stall, pasture or paddock. It is best to not feed him for at least one hour after a hard workout.
     
     
   Cooling off an overheated horse
   
   
   • 1 Although horses can generally adapt well to varying temperatures, sometimes they overheat. Very old, very young, ill horses or those with anhydrosis are particularly at risk. Observe your horse. Is he breathing heavily or panting? Is he sweating profusely? Take him temperature. Is it elevated? If so, he may be overheating.
     
     
   • 2 Hose your horse off with cold water immediately. Start at his legs and work your way off. Be sure to hose under his tail and hose his head (if he will let you). Scrap the water off and repeat. You can also sponge cold water mixed with rubbing alcohol over the horse's large muscle areas to encourage evaporation.
     
     
   • 3 Let your horse drink some water. Contrary to popular belief, drinking water will not cause a horse to colic or founder.
     
     
   • 4 Keep your horse out of the sun. If possible, put him in front of a fan.
     
     
   • 5 Monitor his vital signs.
     
     
   • 6 If his breathing and temperature do not return to normal following cool water baths, call your veterinarian.
     
     

Anyhow, i hope this help's anyone who needs it, If there is a pet i've missed let me know, I will try my best to get the info needed!

Happy summer pets & owners! :cool:

Humphrey10

PRINCESSX87 wrote: »

[*]Your dog should always be able to move into a cooler, ventilated environment if he/she is feeling hot.

Do watch out even if a cooler area is available - the dog might prefer to lie in the sun getting heat stoke rather than move into the shade!

We used to have a dog that go lie in the sun, he would stay there rather than move to a cooler place even when he was obviously far to hot - lying completely limp and motionless, panting away, chest heaving, very hot to the touch. We'd have to physically move him to the shade, he wouldn't or couldn't get up and move himself. I've got no idea why he was seemingly unable to tell when he was too hot. He wouldn't drink water unless it was placed very near him either.

So do keep an eye on your pet in the heat, make sure they are using the shade and water you have provided for them.

pinkcandyflossprincess

One of my cats is wandering around looking lost & restless-sure its the heat as she normally sleeps during the day .they have water and food etc ..just think the heats making her uncomfortable.

mj12_2

For smaller pets like Rabbits and Guinea Pigs giving them frozen fruit is a good way of helping them cool off, dogs and cats might like it too :-)

hostertlady

my 18 year old ginger cat will insist on going out and lying near the bottom step on a very hot day!!! he seems to like it??? but i dont!!!!

i know he will do this and so i always go down and bring him in.... where he can lay on the cool floor..

daft ole !!!!!!.....