21/11/2024
🥵 H E A T S T R O K E 🥵
Summer is here and the heat is just beginning. Here are a few ideas to help your furry friend keep their cool!
😎 Provide plenty of water in two bowls, just in case one is knocked over 🪣
😎 Allow access to cool, well ventilated and shady areas all day 🌳
😎 Close your window blinds to keep the sun out and help your pets stay cooler inside the home 🏠
😎 If your pets are inside, leave the A/C or fans on for them. Circulating air helps them to stay cool (the only way dogs can cool themselves is by panting and using evaporation of moisture from the tongue to cool down. They don’t sweat like we do!) 🪭
😎 Fill a paddling pool or clam shell and take your dog for a splash 🏊🏼
😎 Play with a hose! 💦
😎 Buy a cooling vest or bandana for your dog🦺
🦴 Food 🦴
😎 Add ice blocks to their water bowl 🧊
😎 Feed frozen food - delicious and cooling! 😋
😎 Fill an empty ice cream container with water, drop in a few dry dog crunchies or treats, and freeze ❄️
😎 Give you pet a frozen water/drink bottle or frozen towel as a “cold block” to sit on 🥶
🚗 Travel 🚗
😎 Being at home is better than in a hot car 🚘
😎 If a car ride is a must, use a sun shade and the A/C ❄️
😎 Don't leave your pet in the car - they can die in 4-6 minutes with heat stroke ☠️
🏃♀️➡️ Exercise 🏃♂️➡️
😎 Do it early morning or late at night, when it’s cooler 🌅
😎 Take it easy and avoid high energy games e.g ball chasing 🥎
😎 Who should be extra careful?- brachycephalic short nosed dogs (eg pugs, French bulldogs), older animals, animals with thick coats and ones that originally come from cold climates 🐕
🥵 What does heat stroke look like? 🥵
Rapid panting, tiredness, wobbly gait, drooling, muscle twitching or collapse.
🥵 If this happens what should I do? 🥵
Wet them down with cool (not freezing cold) water, offer cool (not cold) water to drink, pop a fan on them and call us immediately!
