Tips & tricks to keep your furry mate cool on hot days

We sure have had some hot days and we are all feeling it! When we leave home for the day and flick on the air con in the car it can be easy to forget about our animals left in the heat at home. We see animals come into our hospital suffering from heatstroke and if left untreated at home this can be very dangerous to your pet. So here are some tips our team use to keep our dogs cool on the hot long days.

Water



It is just so important to make sure your pet always have access to cool clean water. You can place water bowls in shady areas of the yard and if you pet is home alone it’s a good idea to have more than one water bowl available during the day. Placing ice cubes or ice bricks in the water can also help to keep the water cool.

For dogs that love to swim and play in the water, Clam pools are great to have as their very own swimming pool, they are cheap and easy to clean and your dog can swim whenever he or she feels like it! Using the hose to wet down outdoor pets can also help with keeping them cool when you're home.

Escaping the heat

Ensure your pet has access to shady cool areas in the yard at all times; This can vary from a shady bush to lie under, the back verandah or they just love coming inside with the air conditioning on!

Ice blocks for dogs

One of our teams favourite things to do is make our own yummy ice blocks for our pets! These are a great cheap and easy way to encourage your pet to drink more water and help them to stay cool; they are also excellent for pets who get bored easily! All you need is a container (ice cream containers work great for dogs and Margarine containers are great for smaller dogs), water and pets favorite treats. Simply add the water and treats to the container and freeze overnight! Be creative, you can also use chicken necks, Frankfurts cut into pieces, liver treats, you can even add a small amount of beef/chicken stock for flavour or why not try dog ice cube treats!                                                     Caution: Always remove any uneaten food as once the ice has melted any meat will go off in the heat.

Exercise

Do not exercise your pet during the day; this includes walking and playing in the yard. Early mornings and late in the afternoon when the sun is going down are the best times to exercise with your pet. Also be aware that when walking your pets on the road or footpath that the hot concrete can burn the pads of their feet so it’s best to wait until it cools down.

Travelling with pets

When travelling with your pets always make sure you take water and a bowl for them to drink from. It’s also illegal to leave your pet in the car unattended. Pets will overheat very quickly in a car and this can cause fatality within a short period of time. 

Grooming

Clipping and grooming your pets in the hotter months can help to keep them cool. Having shorter hair however can expose them to the risk of sunburn so pets should be watched closely with short hair, especially white coated animals.

If you suspect your pet may be suffering from heat exhaustion please contact us as soon as possible.

My Vets

Irrawang Veterinary Hospital

Ph: 4987 1898

3/17 Port Stephens Street, Raymond Terrace 2324

Thornton Veterinary Hospital

Ph: 4966 1133

3/ 30 Railway Avenue, Thornton 2322