18/06/2025
It's hot at the moment folks so while you may be drinking ice water and plugging in the fan, please don't forget about keeping your small fur balls cool too! And also spare a thought for our wildlife, just a shallow dish of water in your garden goes a long way and will save many little lives!
Heat stroke is a big killer for rabbits and guinea pigs, not just for outside pets but inside too, this is often because owners under estimate the heat needed to make their pet sick. Remember they have fur coats on and don't cope so well with higher temperatures!
So here are some vital pointers for keeping your pets comfy:
- make sure your pet has clean fresh water and double amounts offered in additional bowls or bottles if needed.
- make sure your pets have shade! This is key, if they live outside and their accommodation is in the sun and is unable to be moved, you need to get a large umbrella or cover to create shade. Remember don't use anything plastic as this will create a green house effect and make the problem worse!
- if possible plug in a fan so that they can have direct air flow into their accommodation, this can be done outside with a extension cord but make sure the fan is not in the sun and monitor incase of fire risk ( a good quality fan will not over heat and can run all day in the shade). Even if they are house pets, it can be just as hot, if not even more in the house so don't assume your pets don't need any extra heat support just because they don't live outside.
-offer large ceramic tiles for them to lie on, these have a lovely cooling effect on their fur or you can also buy bunny safe ice pods which can be kept in the freezer and then taken out when needed. Or if you need a cheaper option then a large plastic bottle filled with water and frozen and then covered in a thin towel will also work well. Cooling mats are also a great option.
- offer healthy treats that are cooling and help to keep them hydrated such as cucumber and romaine lettuce, both of which have very high water content and low calcium levels which is ideal, you can also freeze cucumber to create lolly pops.
- lastly if you do notice the early signs of heat stroke in your pet, try gently spraying their ears with some water, cooling their ears will help reduce their temperature 👍
Remember heat stroke is a medical emergency, if they don't look right, contact your vets straight away
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