The summer heat, despite the recent rain, is unbearable. Residents adopt various measures to protect themselves from the heat, but what about pets? How do we keep the four-legged or feathered member of our family cool this summer?
Veterinarians say that more than cats, birds and fish, dogs are the most affected during the summer. Siranjivi Kumar of the Pets Forum in Thillai Nagar says that the dogs get stressed because of the heat. “Because of the stress, they get heat strokes. It can happen within a span of 3 to 4 hours.”
Heat strokes are common among puppies and aged dogs. Saint Bernards, Siberian Huskies, Mastiffs, Boxers and German Shepherds fall sick most often. “If the dog has a thicker coat, it falls sick more easily,” observes Dr. Kumar.
“When you think that your dog might be having a heatstroke, take it to the veterinarian immediately, but as first aid, keep ice packs on its arm pits and groin or sprinkle water to reduce the body temperature.”
Dogs feel the heat three times more than a human being. Because of this, it is advisable to keep the dogs in air-conditioned rooms as long as possible. In houses without air-conditioners, it is advisable to sprinkle cold water on your dog and let it dry under the fan. This helps cool the body. Dogs, being the intelligent animals they are, avoid the noon-time meal completely. They also don’t prefer a dry diet during the summer. Ear and skin infections, hair loss and ticks are common among dogs during summer. These happen mostly because of the overcrowding when the owners leave the pets at a pet care when they go on a vacation.
“The same thing which happen to our pets at home, happen to street dogs all the time, especially during summer. The only difference is that we take care of our pets,” he says
The doctor advises people to keep water outside houses and on the road, if possible in small cement tanks, in a shaded area, for dogs and birds, for use. He recommends cement tanks as they tend to keep water cooler for a longer time than plastic bowls. When it comes to birds, it is important that the cage is in a shaded and cool area. The only thing that has to be ensured is that there is adequate water throughout the day as birds tend to bathe frequently. Fish tanks are mostly made of glass, but if possible, experts ask the public to use cement tanks for fish, at least in summer.
