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Pets

Hot Dogs (and Other Pets)

Animals are not able to release heat through their skin as humans do, which makes them particularly susceptible to overheating in very hot weather.

Leaving your dog in a hot car makes it prone to heat stroke within minutes, even if you’ve left the windows open and provided water. Equally, walking your pet in full sun, even for a relatively short period of time, is really unhealthy for them and comes with the added risk of burning the pads of their feet on the pavement.

Cats don’t normally pant until they are already in distress. While most cats instinctively move to cooler locations as soon as they feel too warm, they could become trapped in a hot area like a greenhouse, garage, shed or conservatory.

Smaller caged animals can’t move out of the sun of course, and this makes it essential you check the position of their cage, especially if leaving the house for some time. Too late? Signs that your pet has overheated include panting (a very strong sign in cats), red gums, vomiting or displaying a lack of coordination, and you need to act quickly.

Obviously move them into a well-ventilated, shady spot. Offer them cool (not cold) water and with larger animals wrap them in cool damp cloths, particularly the head.

Finally, don’t assume your pet will just recover. Contact your vet immediately and be honest with them about what’s caused the problem. They’d rather work towards saving your animal’s life than judge you for a mistake.

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