In this issue of our monthly contribution to Expat Woman, we would like to inform you about the hazards the Dubai summer heat poses to your furry family members and what you can do to protect them and keep them safe.
Your pet(s) and the summer heat
Temperatures are rising again. People are feeling uncomfortable due to the humidity. AC’s are running on high. No more lazy evenings in the garden. The next few months will be spent indoors. Everybody tries to stay cool as much as possible. Keep in mind that besides people, your furry friend(s) suffer from the heat as well. If they are exposed to too much sun, it can cause heatstroke and can cause a pet’s skin, particularly delicate areas such as the nose or ears, to become sun burnt, eventually leading to skin-cancer just like it does for us. Dogs are particularly prone to heat stress, especially the snub-nosed breeds like the Bull Dogs, Pugs, Shih Tzu’s, Boxers and Pekinese for they have difficulty breathing/panting. Cats can also suffer from heat stress.
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How to keep your pet “cool”
Keeping your pet cool during the summer is a matter of planning and alertness! Since every home in Dubai has air-conditioning, it should be possible to prevent overheating. Unfortunately we see quite a few pets suffering from heat stroke throughout the year but mostly in summer in our clinic. This is mainly caused by lack of sufficient knowledge by the owner or caretaker of the pets.
Please find below somepointers to keep your pet safe and cool.
- Never keep your pet in your car without the AC on, even for a few minutes. Open windows are not sufficient. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PET IN THE CAR!!
- Do not walkyour dog during the hottest part of the day. Schedule them for early mornings and late evenings when the temperatures have dropped a bit and it is cooler. Be careful though in the evenings since the humidity is very often even higher then during the day making it still difficult for your dog to get rid of the heat through panting.
- Prevent your pet from burning their paws on the hot asphalt.
- Do not walk your dog for too long. A short walk in high temperatures is already very hard work for your dog. Try to walk in shady areas as much as possible.
- If your house-help walks the dog make sure that he/she actually walks the dog and does not stay in one place, since being outside itself already is too much for the dog to handle and can cause overheating!!
- If you leave your dog with a home sitter/friend, make sure they do not take them jogging in order to help him loose weight. We have had this situation in our clinic and unfortunately the dog is no more…….
- Make sure that they always have access to fresh water.
- Keep your pet indoors preferably in an air-conditioned area.
- If you do have to take a car journey with your animal make sure the destination is animal-friendly.
- Pets can get sun burnt just like people. The light coloured pets especially, are prone to sunburn on the exposed parts of their body (ears, nose, etc). Check with your veterinarian for a pet-safe sun screen.
- A cool wet towel on a tiled floor helps to cool down your pet, or one of our Aqua Coolkeepers!
- Leftover pet food can quickly go off in hot weather so discard any scraps as soon as possible to avoid an upset stomach in your pet (and flies in your house).
- Promote fluid intake by making icicles, adding extra water to their food and/or keep a source of running water (water-fountain)
Signs of heat stress / strokeIt is important to be able to identify the symptoms of heat stress/overheating/heat stroke. First of all, if you think your pet is suffering from heat stress start cooling it down! It is vital that you take immediate action since heatstroke can be fatal. While cooling your pet down call the vet and bring your pet as soon as possible but keep cooling him/her down. Spray your pet with cool (not cold) water, put cooling packs (cold soda cans/ frozen vegetables or whatever available in the inguinal area and armpits) and transport him/her in your car to the clinic with the AC turned on high. Waiting too long before you seek professional help may be fatal to your pet. (Cold blankets should be regularly refreshed otherwise they work as an isolation and do not help to cool down your pet!).
The symptoms of over-heating are:
- Rapid panting
- Fast pulse
- Drooling a lot
- Wide open eyes
- Hot skin
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Deep red or purple gums and tongue
- Lack of coordination
- Seizures
- Collapsing
- Unconsciousness
- Increase of internal body temperature (normal is T38 – 39C) now you will see (T40-43C)
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In case your Air-Conditioning breaks down
Not a scenario you would like to happen, but you never know, especially with current electrical cuts we see in the UAE. Click on the animal of your choice, it will give you some tips to keep your pet cool without the help of AC, since this is a time that they need extra attention.
Special Promotion for July;
We have a variety of products available in our clinic to keep your pet comfortable during the summer. In July we have a special promotion on all Aqua Coolkeeper bandanas and Aqua Coolkeeper mats. Aqua CoolKeepers keep your pets cool the entire day! Just immerse for just 5 – 10 minutes in cold water
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Aqua Coolkeeper Bandana’s
Different sizes and designs Now 75 AED
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Aqua Coolkeeper mats Different sizes and designs
Now 150 to 250 AED
(price depends on the size of the mat)
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This promotion is subject to stock availability