How to cool your pets during this heatwave
Posted August 18, 2016 7:57 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
LANGLEY (NEWS 1130) – You are probably not the only one complaining about the heat. But, with the hottest day in this heatwave here, have you thought about how your furry friends are dealing with temperatures in the high 20s and low 30s.
There are a lot of things you can do according to Jayne Nelson with the Langley Animal Protection Society. One of the best is call the ‘skin tent test.’ “If you just pull it up gently, the skin should just spring right back when you release it. If an animal is dehydrated it’ll stay standing up almost and slowly go down.”
And there are symptoms to be on the lookout for. “Lethargy, dry gums, sunken eyes — depending on how dehydrated they are.”
Nelson adds it can be really tough when it comes to cats because they like to hide when they’re feeling a little off. “In the interim, while you’re trying to get them some medical attention then you can move them to a cool place, you can soak them down and try to get their body temperature down — that’s critical.”
If your dog or cat is dehydrated make sure you have plenty of water easily available for them.
A recent survey out of the UK suggests a lot of people have no idea how to tell if their pets aren’t doing well on really hot days like the ones we’re expecting today and tomorrow.
