When the heat wave alert is launched, we are not the only ones to suffer. Our dog and cat friends have a hard time withstanding temperatures that are too high. But we have the possibility of relieving them with a few simple gestures.
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Like human beings, dogs and cats can suffer from heat. Especially when it gets hot. While sweat allows us to lower our body temperature relatively effectively, our four-legged friends are not so lucky. They only have a few sweat glands located between their pads. Not enough to cool them down enough. And it’s actually through breathing that they regulate their temperature. A system that demands effort from their hearts and costs them a lot ofenergy.
Thus in the event of a heat wave, dogs and cats are at first risk of exhaustion. They may also experience respiratory failure. Especially the brachycephals, these animals with nose crushed. And those with heart disease are at risk of heart failure. When the animal is confined in a space that is too hot, it risks heatstroke which can even cause death.
The cat less sensitive than the dog
The desert origins of the cat, however, make it an animal better adapted to heat than the dog. When temperatures rise, it is therefore quite natural that the cat will spend its day sleeping in the coolest place it can find. Thanks to a particular urinary system, it is also capable of better retention of the water it drinks. And he can wash himself more to cool off thanks to the saliva which he then deposits on his hair.
To help your cat get through a heat wave, however, you can think of:
- keep it indoors during the hottest hours of the day;
- provide him with a corner in a ventilated room or in the shade;
- ensure that it has fresh water available and if the cat is reluctant to drink, opt in its bowl for wet mash rather than dry kibble;
- regularly dip the tips of its paws in cool water – if it likes water;
- spray it with an atomizer or caress it with a damp washcloth;
- offer him the freshness of a fan or a air conditioner.
Some tips dedicated to the dog
To protect from the heat wave, the dog has another strategy at its disposal: panting. When the temperature rises, it breathes faster in order to evacuate the heat more quickly and more efficiently. He can also, if he is outdoors, decide to dig a hole to take advantage of the coolness of the layer of soil hidden under the lawn.
If you want to help your dog through a heat wave, you can adopt much the same strategies as for a cat. Not forgetting, in addition:
- to take it out at the coolest times: early in the morning or late in the evening while choosing cool places to walk like the undergrowth and the edges of a stream;
- to offer him swimming (legs or whole body) in cool water – taking care to avoid thermal shock;
- to avoid having him run sun;
- to offer him to sleep on a refreshing carpet or even on a wet towel;
- to brush it regularly to allow its coat to perform its thermoregulatory function as well as possible.
Even if it’s tempting, avoid shaving your animals
In the event of a heat wave, however, beware of some misconceptions about our cats and dogs. Thus one might tend to think that a dog or a cat stripped of its hair will suffer less from the heat. It’s wrong. The hairs of our four-legged friends serve asthermal insulation. They therefore also protect them against extreme heat. And against the Sun burn. If your pet has long hair, you can consider cutting it a little shorter.
Note that a dog or cat that is constantly panting, seems to have trouble breathing, loses its appetite or appears lethargic should alert you. He’s clearly in pain, from the heat…or some other pathology . Better to consult a veterinaryemergency.
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