How to help your cat or dog resist the heat wave

22 June 2017

It’s hot and it’s not easy easy: we struggle in the subway, we stink, we are tired … But we are not the only ones to suffer, even our pets collect as they can.

Since they are not in their natural habitat, they don’t always have everything available to protect themselves from the heat. Don’t panic, we can help you to endure this test with simple gestures.

Helping your dog during a heat wave

Dogs can really suffer from intense heat, especially as they get older.

During heatwave alerts, we often hear that we need to be careful around the elderly. well It’s the same for bigger dogs!

In hot weather, your dog will tend to avoid physical exertion. Especially if he is fat, and even more so if he is hairy.

Sandra Widmann, veterinarian, advises organize your space well :

“You shouldn’t hesitate to put a wet towel in the basket, wet it again from time to time to keep your dog cool.

Note that clipping is really recommended, especially if the dog has very long hair. “

Hey yes, even though your dog will be potentially ugly once he’s shaved, his health is at stake!

This is my love dog asking me to sacrifice her beauty at the cost of her well-being. I can only accept.

The other danger, we face it during the walks. Maybe you don’t know them yet: the spikelets !

These are spiky weeds that will get stuck in your dog’s paws, ears, nose and sometimes even private parts. Sandra Widmann confirms:

“It really is the season of the spikelets, there are a lot of them. If they are only in the hair, you can remove them yourself. But if they are planted in the skin, it is imperative to go to a vet to have them removed. “

In some cases, such as those planted in the nostrils, the animal must also be asleep.

Spikelets are a real pain. I have a painful memory of a walk in which my dog ​​found himself with all four paws bloody from these annoying bits of grass.

Against this problem, only one solution: thoroughly inspect your dog everywhere when you come back from a walkto make sure he wasn’t hurt.

Helping your cat during a heat wave

To be honest, they are more of a dog team, so my cat can scratch herself well.

JOKE ONLY, sure, but there is a grain of truth. Cats tolerate heat better than dogs, and therefore they need less of our help.

Especially when they live outdoors, where they can find the ideal shelter to stay cool.

But when you have a cat in an apartment, what do you do? According to Sandra Widmann, mowing is rarely recommended :

“We avoid shearing cats because they are better able to cope with high heat, so they don’t necessarily need it. Especially because they are less docile, you often have to put them to sleep to mow them. “

You can do this when the hair is really very long and there is a risk that it will tangle and get in the way.

Again, we can try putting wet towels where the cat likes to settle, making sure it doesn’t bother him.

The ideal is always the tiling: if you have a somewhat messy apartment, be sure to leave a free space for your feline to stretch out.

My cat, he judges me for putting rugs all over the place.

Your pets AGAINST the heat wave: water, always water!

When an animal lives in an apartment, it cannot stay hydrated unless you give it water. Make sure that his bowl is always full and don’t hesitate to change the water regularly to keep it fresh.

Note that some slightly welcoming animals refuse to drink when a fly is floating in their bowl, so this is even more important!

Sandra Widmann also recommendsinvest in a fountain. And I have selected this one which is just too cute.

The Flower Fountain, located on Amazon, at 29.99€

This also applies to all other pets such as rodents.

With regard to rabbits, they must not be shorn because of their very fragile skin and do everything possible to keep the cage in the shade.

Attention to fans too: many animals are sensitive to cold spells. Avoid using them when they are in the room. That would still be the height of the kitten catching a cold in the midst of a heat wave!