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Animal care -
Summer care
Summer
care
It is important to not only look after yourself over
the heat of summer, but you should also take care of your pet' s needs. Here
are a few tips to help you prepare your pet for the summer heat.
Heat stress
The heat can affect us all, here are a few tips to
help with the heat:
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On very hot days, it is best to walk your pets in the
coolness of the early morning or evening. You may even take them to the
local beach, creek or river to let them have a paddle to cool down. By
avoiding the hottest part of the day, both you and your pets will enjoy the
walk even more and your pets will avoid possible dehydration, sunburn and
potentially painful paws.
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All pets must have cool, shady areas. Cats and dogs
are able to move around and seek shade, but small animals such as rabbits,
guinea pigs and birds can’t move from their cages. Make sure that your caged
animals are not in direct sunlight and that their cages are protected from
the sun as the shade moves.
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Make sure that your pets have access to plenty of cool
water. It is a good idea to provide several good-sized water containers in
case one is spilt. Ensure the containers are in the shade, try adding some
ice to the water to keep it cool for longer.
-
Consider using a small swimming pool (or a child's
clam shell), fill it with water and place in the shade. Your dog can then
wade in the water to keep cool. If your pets share your yard with children,
remember to have all necessary precautions in place, including fencing, in
order to keep them safe.
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Never leave your pets in a car on a hot day as
they will not cope, even with the windows down. If it feels hot to a person
sitting in a parked car, it will feel much hotter to an animal in a fur
coat. Read more about
leaving dogs in hot cars.
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Rabbits and guinea pigs are particularly susceptible
to heat and a good remedy is to put a frozen water bottle in their cages so
that they can regulate their body temperature. Replace these bottles as
required.
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Small animals such as rabbits, guineapigs and ferrets,
as well as kittens and puppies, cope best if brought inside. If allowed free
run in a laundry or bathroom, they will benefit from the cool tiles. If this
is not possible, drape their cage with wet towels and provide a sturdy
icepack or frozen water bottle for the animal to lean against so it can to
regulate its own body temperature.
-
If your animal seems to be in discomfort, try wetting
its feet and misting water onto its face. This is an option for dogs, cats,
ferrets, poultry and caged birds as many animals control their inner
temperature through their feet. Its important not to saturate a bird's
feathers as this can cause them to go into shock.
Sunscreen
Don't laugh, pets can get sunburnt too! Pets with pink
or light coloured skin on their ears or nose are particularly vulnerable to
sunburn and skin cancer. Special sunscreen for animals can be applied to
these areas, to help protect pets from harmful UV rays.
Fleas
and ticks
In the warmer months, fleas and ticks are common
parasites. They cause severe itching and inflammation of the skin, leading
to dermatitis. Make sure your pet’s treatments are up to date to keep them
comfortable all summer. If you need further information on the treatments
available contact the
RSPCA Veterinary
Clinic or your local vet.
By taking some extra precautions over summer, you and
your pet will be happy and safe this summer!
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