How are your pets handling the heat today?

Fosterdog

Dogs are coping by being kept cool in the house but the rabbits are struggling with the heat outside.

We've already given them ice packs to lie on, two fans running with frozen water bottles in front to cool the air, given two extra hide boxes and set up a parasol to give even more shade. Even with all that they are still hot, I might bring them in the house tomorrow if they are as bad as today

Ilona

Cats have been lying outside in the shade under a bush. Dog has been indoors. It's too hot for dog walks, took him out at 9pm tonight.
Ilona

jrtfan

What a fabulous collection of inventive ideas, thank you!

I hadn't thought about the little furry guys like Degus and Rabbits, but they must really feel the heat too. A friend keeps 3 Chinchilla(Chinchillas?) so I'll ask her if she's ever thought of using a bottle of ice to provide them with a cool corner. And if the rabbits' hutches were anything like interior of my wooden shed today, then I really feel for them...

I love the idea of making gravy lollies and chunky vegetable "ice creams" for the dogs (I haven't any cats, but maybe the recipes could substitute some tinned fish for the vegetables, or something?). Laying on cool packs is a good idea too. This time last year I had a different 2 dogs (one Greyhound and one JRT) and the Greyhound in particular couldn't cope with the heat - he had like a double-layer of fur all year round. A friend suggested to me that cool mats for dogs were available from many online retailers (and other sources) - maybe some people here have used one before? My friend said they just pop into the freezer for a while and then slip underneath the cover of the dog's bed, where they'll stay cold for a few hours. I don't know if they're any good though, the Greyhound had arthritis throughout his hind quarters so I was afraid that laying on something cold for a long time might make his joints quite painful and I didn't get one in the end.

It sounds like the cats have the right idea at the moment, finding a cool shady spot out in the garden! Our garden is small and mostly laid to patterned concrete, shame really because some grass and earth would probably be ideal for my dogs.

One thing I wish I'd held on to now is my son's old pair of rigid blue plastic clam shells (you know the ones which can have a sandpit in one shell and a paddling pool in the other?). The dogs couldn't puncture them with their claws and they would have come in very handy this week!

MallyGirl

We have half a clam shell pool setup in the shade - one dog drinks from it and lays next to it, the other ignores it. I gave fluffy boy a generous spritz with the hose yesterday but my girl won't go near a hose.
We ended up having the air con unit on most of the night - it is really noisy but still quieter than the panting of fluffy boy on his cool mat.
The dogs spent most of the day in the tiled hall at the front of the house which is cooler as it is always in shade.
Other than that I just keep the water bowl full and offer the odd frozen kong or other frozen treat.
It was still too hot from them really to walk at 6am but it would be hard work for the rest of the day if they didn't get a change of scene so a gentle walk round a shady lake was the order of the day.

Cornucopia

It's good to recognise the signs of over-heating. All the species are different - with dogs it's pretty obvious, and with others much less so.

I know that Degus and other small animals use their ears, and in some cases feet (i.e. the non-furry parts of their bodies) to radiate heat. In Smokey Degu's case it results in him having red ears - not sure if this is common to all Degus, though.

alanalea

Fatboy (aka Casper, 10 month ragdoll) is laying under the tree on a concrete slab. He has ice cubes in his water bowls & I leave the tap slightly running in the bath because he likes to paddle(!) and drink from it.

owlet

Rosie has an evaporating cooling mat, that she is appreciating. It works really well. I also got her the Ruffwear cooling jacket but we haven't tried it yet.

http://www.petplanet.co.uk/product.asp?dept_id=138&pf_id=54247&utm_source=ShoppingFeed&utm_medium=cpc&gclid=CKbAt6LYucYCFULmwgodjawMUw

I've got the windows open & front door with a baby gate on it so she can't get out. Another gate will be arriving today so i have the back door open too.
I've been giving her the teething chews that go in the freezer but she's not too interested in them because she is recovering from her spay.
she also loves a little vanilla ice cream & when I shop today, I'll get some fat free yoghurt and freeze little blocks.
I'm so pleased the vet plucked the hair out of her ears while she was under, she would be going loopy otherwise in this heat.

TBagpuss

Dogs -I've seen advice about walks - put your hand palm down on the path for 5 seconds. If it is too uncomfortable for you to keep your hand there that long, it's too hot for the dog to walk on. obviously more of an issue if you would need to walk on roads or pavements than in the country, but worth thinking about.

My cats seem to be enjoying it, despite both being predominantly black- basking on the patio. They have access to the house so have nice cool kitchen tiles they can lie on if they wish, as well as shady spots in the garden and plenty of fresh water.

They were very indignant yesterday evening when I didn't want them both sitting on my lap....

I

owlet

TBagpuss wrote: »

Dogs -I've seen advice about walks - put your hand palm down on the path for 5 seconds. If it is too uncomfortable for you to keep your hand there that long, it's too hot for the dog to walk on. obviously more of an issue if you would need to walk on roads or pavements than in the country, but worth thinking about.

Yes I agree, very important. My hubby thought I'd gone mad when I was doing that the other week lol but the pads will burn when it's hot :-(

aileth

They all hate it. Dog refused to even go for walkies which is a big thing for him. He also hates water, so bath/paddling pool is out of the equation. He absolutely loves licking on ice cubes, so they are being provided. He has just been laying spread eagle on the sofa/bed in front of a fan and panting.

Our black cat has found a lovely spot under the hydraenga bush and was there all day yesterday, when he was inside he was laid flat out on the upstairs windowsill on the side of the house (sun doesn't hit it at all so it's nice and cool).

It's supposed to hit 33 celsius here by 2 o'clock. I don't know about the pets, but I'm dreading it!