Pet parents are encouraged to take extra care with their pets, with a heatwave expected to hit every state and territory across Australia this weekend.
Our resident Vet Advisor, Dr Betty Chan, sat down with Yahoo to share her tips and advice for taking care of our four-legged friends during the extreme heat. Here are her top tips:
- Top up their drinking water: Ensure they have easy access to clean drinking water, and remember to regularly top it up throughout the day.
- Avoid excessive exercise or walks during the middle of the day: With a heatwave expected to hit this weekend, avoid walking your pet between 12-2pm. Walking your four-legged friend early or later in the day when it’s cooler can help reduce their risk of heatstroke. Where possible, walk your pet on the grass or shaded areas.
- Access to cool and ventilated areas: Make sure your furry friend has access to cool areas with good airflow. Open your windows, turn on your ceiling fans or air conditioning to cool down the temperature.
- Don’t leave your dog in the car: Never leave your pet unattended in the vehicle. On a hot day, cars can heat up really quickly which could put your pet at risk of heatstroke.
- Make them an ice block treat: Freeze some summer fruits or vegetables (carrots, pumpkin, blueberries, banana) for a cool treat for your pet that will also provide them with enrichment. Just remember grapes, citrus and raisins can be toxic to dogs so avoid these ingredients.
Brachycephalic breeds (cats and dogs with flatter faces), overweight pets, or dogs with very thick or black coats can be more vulnerable to heatstroke.
According to PetSure Claims data (1/1/2022 to 31/12/202) French Bulldog, Staffordshire Bull Terrier and British Bulldog were the most likely dog breeds to suffer from heatstroke but any breed can be affected.
To see how you can take care of your pet during the heat, check out the media article below:
