PETS

pets Ask a vet...

Dr Pauline answers your pet questions this summer

Dr. Pauline Pets Central veterinarian

What should pet owners be more concerned about during the summer?

With summer comes a bunch of hazards that can affect or kill our pets. Commonly seen by our ER vets include: • Animals coming across and getting bitten by wildlife including snakes, mosquitoes, ticks, bees and other flying insects. • Overheating/heatstroke can quickly lead to dehydration and a life threatening situation. Always bring drinking water for your pet and never leave them unattended in the car. • Hot surfaces like pavements and hot sand can burn your pets feet. Also watch out for hose pipes that have been in the sun, as the water inside can be very hot. • Drowning, animals often jump or fall into swimming pools to cool off and drown because they cannot get out. • Thick manky fur coats, ensure your pet is clean and well-groomed and take care if you cut it off. Do not remove too much as the coat also helps prevent sunburn to the skin. • BBQs, as scavengers, your dog may eat too much or ingest fatty foods like ice cream causing an upset gastrointestinal system. Cooked meat bones and sweetcorn can also cause choking or get stuck in parts of the body, and meat skewers or toothpicks can kill if they pierce vital soft areas especially in the intestine.

How long can dogs lay in the sun before it’s dangerous?

Normally dogs love sunbathing, but for how long before it gets dangerous depends on many things. Most important is their in-built temperature control system in an area of their brain called the hypothalamus. This internal thermo-regulating area has the ability to maintain body temperature within certain limits (38-39.5C).

Problems arise when the surrounding environmental temperature equals the dog’s body temperature and it becomes difficult for the dog to lose heat naturally. If you see your dog panting, drooling and trying to get a cooler space they should naturally move out of the sun’s rays.

Heat stroke can kill a dog in as quickly as 10 minutes, if there are reasons they cannot thermo-regulate. If your dog is elderly, ill or has a thick fur coat I would recommend sunbathing is monitored carefully or restricted to cooler times of the day, if ever.

Got a question for Dr. Pauline? Email editorial@hongkongliving.com

Walkies Lung Ha Wan Country Trail with Rex the dog

Located in picturesque Clearwater Bay Country Park, the Lung Ha Wan Country Trail offers stunning sea views and rolling hills unique to anywhere else in Hong Kong. In the

past, the area was used as a shooting location for many local based films.

The full hike is 2.3km and takes roughly two hours to complete, but save time for a photo opportunity at the summit.

The hike isn’t too strenuous, but be prepared to climb a lot of stairs.

Most of the trail doesn’t have much tree canopy to shelter underneath and with Hong Kong’s unforgiving heat, it can be difficult, so be sure to wear plenty of sunscreen and water for you and your four legged friend.

With a stone path most of the way, this hike is perfect to take the kids on.

Once you reach the end, call a taxi back home or stop or stop by the Lung Ha Wan Picnic Site for a well-deserved pit stop.