Five things vets tell dog and cat owners during the summer heat

Is your dog panting more than usual these days? It might just be hot, but in some cases it is an early sign of heatstroke that can be life-threatening within twenty minutes.

According to advice from Veterinarska ambulanta Beograd, the symptoms of canine heatstroke include heavy panting, trembling and mild disorientation. If you spot these signs, douse the dog with lukewarm water (not cold, not iced) and call the nearest veterinary clinic immediately.

Early signs of heatstroke

A dog does not sweat like a human, it cools through its paw pads and by panting. When those mechanisms cannot keep up, body temperature rises dangerously fast.

Red alerts:

• Panting that does not stop even when the dog rests in the shade
• Saliva that is unusually thick and sticky
• Trembling or loss of balance
• Vomiting or diarrhoea
• Loss of consciousness

If you see any of these, drive straight to the clinic. Do not wait for it to pass, because in small and short-snouted breeds (pug, French bulldog, boxer) it can be fatal within an hour.

Five practical pieces of advice from vets

1. Walks only in the morning and evening

In Serbia between June and August, asphalt in the sun can hit 50 to 60 degrees Celsius, burning a dog’s paws within minutes. The rule, if it is hot to your hand after five seconds, it is hot to him as well.

The best walking time, before 8 a.m. and after 8 p.m. At midday, only go out for essential bathroom breaks on grass.

2. Water available 24 hours

Change fresh water two or three times a day during a heatwave. Vets recommend dropping a few ice cubes on top of the bowl, but not too many, since the dog should not drink too cold a bowl at once.

For cats, if you have several rooms, place bowls in multiple spots. Cats rarely leave the air-conditioned zone where they feel comfortable, so they will drink wherever a bowl is close to them.

3. Never leave a dog in a parked car

The classic rule that gets repeated every year, because every year children and pets die because of this. The temperature inside a parked car in Serbia in July, even with a window open, rises by 10 degrees in 10 minutes.

The rule, if the engine is off, the dog does not stay inside, not even for a minute. No exceptions, not even “I’m just popping into the shop”.

4. Shade and cooling for cats

Cats tolerate heat better than dogs, but they still suffer. If your cat lies stretched out in the same position for a long time and does not move, check that it is not heat-exhausted.

A trick that works, a wet towel on the floor in a shaded spot, or an old plastic bottle filled with frozen water wrapped in a towel. The cat will lie on it on its own if it needs to.

5. Regular vet checks and parasite protection

Summer is the season of fleas, ticks and the mosquitoes that spread heartworm (dirofilariasis). Before you head off on holiday with your dog, make sure the anti-parasite regimen is up to date at the vet.

According to advice from Veterinarska ambulanta Petar Centar, monthly protection against ectoparasites (fleas, ticks) and annual vaccination are the minimum for a healthy animal during the summer months.

What not to do

• Do not shave long-haired dogs hoping to cool them down. The coat insulates against heat and sun burn.
• Do not offer your pet iced water after vigorous activity, lukewarm is enough.
• Do not put a dog under a cold shower when it shows signs of heatstroke, the temperature shock can make things worse. Lukewarm water on paws, neck and belly.
• Do not leave windows wide open with indoor cats. “Summer cat paralysis” from a fall is a diagnosis Belgrade vets see almost every week through the summer.

Before you head off on holiday

If you are taking a pet to the seaside, check before you go that the accommodation actually accepts animals. Many owners discover in Budva that the “pet-friendly” label on an apartment only means “we don’t mind”.

What is your biggest challenge with a pet in the summer? Share it in the comments.