Hot Weather

This summer is looking to be very hot, we have soared into higher than average temperatures in October for days on end and the heat wave has been unrelenting. This type of weather can be very hard for your pets to deal with, particularly if they are very young, very old, or have medical conditions such as heart, respiratory, liver or kidney problems.

Very hot temperatures can lead to heat stroke in dogs and cats, where the heat load on the animal exceeds the heat that is lost or dissipated. Because of their inferior capacity to exchange heat, we sweat they don not, this problem is more common in dogs and cats than humans. As the heat increases, the conditions lead to the opening up of blood vessels and can result in poor organ perfusion and can lead to tissue damage. That damage can include haemorrhage, breakdown of the gut lining, damage to internal organs such as the liver and kidneys.

Signs of heat stress are usually seen during hot summer months, but also in cases where animals are confined in hot poorly ventilated spaces, such as cars. The signs to look out for include: rapid breathing, fast, racing heart, depression, diarrhoea, vomiting, dehydration, seizures and collapse and coma

If you notice any of these signs, ring your VET. Immediately bath your pet in cold water and place them in front of a fan to speed up evaporation. Your vet will check the dogs temperature frequently to make sure their temperature is going down. The thermal regulation centre can go a bit haywire following an episode of heat stroke and the animal may not be able to regulate its temperature so will need monitoring. Fluids will need to be given via an intravenous drip to counteract shock and re-hydrate your pet, and urine output will be measured.

It is important when exercising your dog in the hotter months to do it when temperatures are lower, early morning and evening are best. Also remember you need to control the chasing games and ball games and exercise your dog moderately when it is hot.

Summer Garden Dangers to be aware of are usually beautiful garden plants lilies, day lilies, tiger lilies, glory lilies and stargazer lilies. All parts of the lilies are toxic for cats. The first signs of poisoning include vomiting, depression, loss of appetite and the worst case scenario is renal failure. Other plants that are toxic include brunfelsia otherwise known as yesterday, today and tomorrow. Early intensive treatment is vital for survival so talk to your vet.