The veterinary service is reminding pet owners how to care for their four-legged friends in extreme heat. Livestock owners can apply the same recommendations.
The agency urges owners to provide their animals with sufficient shade throughout the day. If there is no natural shade in the room where animals are kept, it is necessary to create it artificially. This is especially important to do during hours when temperatures reach their highest levels.
In the room where animals live, it is necessary to ensure good air circulation, using fans or even air conditioners if possible to maintain coolness.
Animals must be given fresh and cool water regularly. It is necessary to constantly check the drinking bowl, change the water often and monitor its temperature. To keep the water cool longer, you can add ice to it.
The Veterinary Service also recommends the use of cold compresses for animals. They can be made from improvised means by simply moistening a towel in cool (not cold) water and placing it on the animal.
Walking pets and, in general, all physical activity is best limited to morning and evening hours. It is not recommended to let them outside during the day. If it is impossible to keep the animal at home during the hottest hours, then it is better to give preference to frequent and short walks, avoiding intense games and running.
When going for a walk with your animal, think about where exactly you will be walking it. It is better to choose routes that provide sufficient shade. Land without vegetation gets very hot in the sun and can burn your paws. When going for a walk, you should take a bottle of water and a bowl for it to give your pet something to drink.
Never leave animals in a switched off vehicle. If you need to transport them, be sure to turn on the air conditioning in the cabin.
It is recommended to regularly check animals for signs of heat stroke. Symptoms include: excessive shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, rapid heartbeat, increased salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, loss of consciousness or contact with the environment. If these symptoms occur, animals should be moved to a shady, cool place, sprinkled with cool (not cold) water, allowed to drink a small amount of water, and then immediately contact a veterinarian.
Some categories of animals are most vulnerable to heat and require special care. These are long-haired animals and animals with thick fur, dogs of brachycephalic breeds, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and other small mammals, birds such as parrots and canaries, horses, animals at a young or, conversely, old age, with excess weight or disease .
The Veterinary Service also reminds that the law prohibits keeping or temporarily locking cats and dogs on balconies, terraces or loggias, as well as keeping them on a leash at all times.
The text was prepared based on materials from Politis.
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