Ophelie Artaud 6:30 p.m., June 17, 2022
Pets are sensitive to sudden changes in temperature and also suffer a lot from the heat.
Fortunately, a few simple rules can be put in place to help them get through this period and above all, to avoid heat stroke, which can be fatal for our four-legged friends.
If humans suffer during the heat wave, so do animals... or even more.
To help your four-legged friend withstand the hot weather, a few simple rules can be put in place.
Never leave your pet in the car
If it seems obvious, many pets get heatstroke every summer because their owner left them in the car.
Even if the vehicle is parked in the shade and the windows are open, the temperature rises very quickly inside the passenger compartment and can reach 60 degrees in fifteen minutes.
It only takes a few minutes for the animal to suffer from heat stroke and unfortunately this can be fatal if not treated quickly.
On the other hand, if you discover an animal in pain in a parked car, you can quickly call the police or the gendarmerie.
The law authorizes "to open the vehicle parked in direct sunlight, in the presence of a gendarme or a policeman".
The owner could be followed for animal abuse.
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Keep your pet cool
To refresh your animal, the first thing to do is to install several water points in the house, to allow it to hydrate throughout the day.
When possible, you should also try to keep it indoors as much as possible.
If you let him out, try to provide him with a shady spot and leave water available.
Avoid taking your pet out during the hottest hours
In the same logic, avoid walking your dogs during the hottest hours and prefer the morning, before 9 a.m. and the evening, after 6 p.m.
Also limit the dog's efforts and be careful not to let him walk on hot asphalt, which could burn his pads.
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Give him wet food
To allow him to quench his thirst, it is also recommended to give his animal wet food, such as mash or fresh sachets.
This particularly concerns cats, which drink less than dogs.
What to do in case of heat stroke?
If your four-legged friend is breathing much faster than usual, panting a lot, seems dehydrated, or is starting to vomit, he may be having heat stroke.
The first thing to do is to refresh it, moisturizing it with a damp cloth.
It is also necessary to try to make it drink as much as possible and to install it in a cool place, without sun.
If, despite this, your animal's state of health does not improve, do not hesitate to take it quickly to the veterinarian.