HOW TO LOOK AFTER YOUR PET IN A HEATWAVE: SITTER REVEALS THE TIPS AND TRICKS TO HELP YOUR DOG OR CAT IN SWELTERING TEMPERATURES
Source: Mail Online (Extract)
Posted: November 29, 2020
A Sydney pet sitter and dog walker has revealed the tips and tricks to help your dog and cat in a heatwave, as much of Australia swelters through 40 plus degrees Celsius temperatures.
Anna Tarrant, from Sydney’s Mosman, told FEMAIL she wanted to share a few tips with other pet owners across Australia, particularly given the fact that so many men and women got puppies during the coronavirus pandemic.
‘With a significant heatwave sweeping across Sydney and much of the country, here are some tips to lower the temperatures of all furry members of the family,’ Anna told FEMAIL.
- Bring them inside
The first – and most obvious – thing Anna said all dog and cat owners should be doing is bringing their pet inside – which she said is ‘the most effective way of sucking heat out of their body’.
‘A fan and air conditioning will majorly help with circulating cool air through their coat,’ she said.
- Embrace your freezer
The second thing you could do is freeze a half full bowl of their water in your freezer and then add fresh water over it during the day.
‘This, for them, is like an ice-cold water for us,’ Anna said.
‘It will hugely help with regulating their overall body temperature.’
In the same vein, the pet sitter said you could get an old towel and pop it in the fridge or freezer for an hour before laying it down on their bed.
‘They’ll be so delighted if you do this for them,’ Anna explained.
- Be careful when out on walks
While dogs require a daily walk, Anna said it pays to choose when and where you walk carefully.
‘If you can, try to avoid walking on hot sand, concrete, asphalt areas or any other areas where heat is reflected and there is no access to shade,’ Anna said.
You could also try walking your dog early in the morning or after the sun has set to avoid them overheating.
- Make their dog treats iced
Anna’s fourth tip also requires your freezer.
She said she loves freezing dog treats in ice cube trays or buying salt-reduced beef or chicken stock, which she then freezes for a cool treat.
- Wet their feet
If your dog or cat seems uncomfortable and just too hot, there is one thing you can do.
‘Try wetting their feet and misting water onto their face,’ Anna said.
‘This is a good option for dogs, cats and many animals as many of them control their temperature through their feet.’