‘Deadly’: How to keep pets safe during days of extreme heat

When the mercury reaches its breaking point and the heat becomes oppressive, it’s easy to grab an ice-cold drink or throw on a tank top to help your body cool down.

So how can owners make sure their pets are safe during a heatwave?

During the extreme heat felt in parts of Queensland and NSW this week, animals (such as babies, children and the elderly) can be affected by serious health problems such as heatstroke and heat stress.

While humans can easily walk in and grab an icy cold drink to help them cool down instantly, pets don’t have that luxury.

According to a study University of SydneyOn extremely hot days, a dog’s risk of dying increases by almost 10 percent.

“As temperatures rise during extreme heat waves, it’s important to remember that our pets feel the heat more than we do,” said Advanced Vet Care Lane Cove veterinarian Matt Buchanan-Pascall.

Some pets are more sensitive to heat than others

Just like humans, there are some animals that can tolerate heat better than others.

Veterinarian Claire Jenkins told NewsWire that vulnerable animals are more susceptible to heatstroke than others.

Fortunately, cats can mostly regulate their temperatures by finding shade and limiting physical activity amid scorching heat, but other cats, such as dogs, rabbits, and horses, need extra attention during sweltering weather.

“Keep high-risk pets indoors during extreme heat,” Dr Jenkins told NewsWire.

“This includes older pets, very young pets, overweight pets, those with respiratory issues, and brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds.”

Pets with short noses or flat faces, such as bulldogs, boxers, and Persian cats, are some of the most vulnerable to heat exposure, as their short noses make them particularly prone to heatstroke.

“Shorty-headed dogs are particularly susceptible to heat stress and are therefore not well suited to Australian summers,” said University of Sydney veterinarian and ethologist Paul McGreevy.

In hot weather and during exercise, these animals may have difficulty regulating their breathing and panting, which can cause their body temperatures to rise dangerously high.

Dogs aren’t the only ones suffering from the heat; horses are also vulnerable to extreme heat stress.

“In many areas horse racing is considered unsafe when temperatures reach 32°C,” Dr McGreevy said.

“This highlights the additional heat load that occurs during exertion.”

How to cool a pet in the heat?

The safest method to keep a pet cool on a really hot day is to keep them indoors or under shelter, out of direct sunlight.

Dr McGreevy recommends turning on air conditioning and providing plenty of water to pets living inside.

“If that’s not possible, provide reliable shade and a variety of sources of clean, fresh water,” he told NewsWire.

For pets that live outdoors, it’s important to feed them when the sun is not at its highest.

“Provide food at dusk and dawn because all mammals develop a physiological temperature increase after feeding,” he said.

When is it too hot for a walk?

Walks are undoubtedly one of the most important parts of caring for a dog, but they can be deadly when the sun is too bright.

As a general rule, if the temperature exceeds 28°C, it is too hot to take your furry friend for a walk.

But there is an easy way to determine if conditions are too extreme for a pet.

“Check the pavement temperature with your hand,” Dr Jenkins told NewsWire.

“If it’s too hot to touch for five seconds, it’s too hot for the paw pads.”

Dr McGreevy recommends pets should only be walked at dusk and dawn, before temperatures get too hot for little feet.

“Avoid asphalt because it can cause burns,” he said.

While it may seem like a great idea to get outside and be active on a hot day, Dr. McGreevy recommends that pets play with toys outside, such as chasing a ball, that create lots of effort.

Signs of heat stress in pets

While pets may not be able to explicitly tell you that they feel too hot to work, there are signs that owners should pay attention to.

Some of the most common symptoms of heat distress are excessive panting and fatigue.

Animals suffering from heat stress may also have bright red gums, excessive drooling, shortness of breath and loss of consciousness, which can be potentially life-threatening.

Dr McGreevy said failure to deal with heat appropriately could lead to “distress, heat-related injuries and death”.