Keeping pets safe over the summer

New Zealand Veterinary Association media release
Tuesday 13 January 2015

Keeping pets safe over the summer – NZVA

As we move into the hotter summer months and enjoy the longer days and warmer nights, the New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) is encouraging pet owners to keep their pets cool, comfortable, well hydrated and free from heat-related health problems.

“Summer should be a fun time for you and your pet. It’s a fantastic opportunity to get out and about with your dogs particularly in the great New Zealand outdoors so we believe it’s timely to remind owners that pets are very sensitive to the heat and their comfort and safety can be compromised. If you think it’s hot outside, it’s even hotter for your pet,” says Dr Cath Watson, President of the NZVA Companion Animal Society.

She says there are some basic precautions to ensure pets enjoy the season and it’s important to be familiar with the early warning signs of an overheated pet, such as increased effort when breathing, excessive panting, and weakness.

“Pets should have access to cool, fresh, clean water all the time, regardless of the weather, but it is particularly critical in summer. They should have easy access to plenty of cool shade and shouldn’t be kept in the sun for long periods.”

NZVA’s ‘keep your pet safe in summer’ checklist below covers the main issues owners should be aware of to help pets stay safe.

Exercise
Owners should avoid excessive exercise for dogs on hot days, and walk them during the cooler hours, either early morning or evening. “Summer isn’t suited to intense exercise – do it at an easier pace and if temperatures hit the 20s or higher don’t take them running,” says Dr Watson.

“In summer you need to monitor your pet during exercise for signs of exhaustion, such as heavy panting, and if necessary to stop exercising and provide them with immediate shade and water. It’s a great idea to carry a bottle of water with you.”

Dr Watson also advises in summer it is best to avoid walking your pet on concrete, asphalt, and even dry sand as the heat can cause painful burns or abrasions on an animal’s sensitive paw pads.

Overheating and heatstroke
Heat stroke is one of the biggest concerns for pets over summer, as it can lead to permanent organ damage or death. It is caused by exposure to extreme environmental temperatures, especially when an animal lacks shade, ventilation, or water.

“Dogs and cats have few sweat glands which means they can’t cool off by sweating, like humans do. Instead, they lose heat and moisture from their tongues by panting. Unfortunately, this is less effective when it’s hot and humid and their body temperature will become dangerously high very quickly. To replace water loss, fresh drinking water should always be available.”

Signs of heatstroke can include heavy panting and drooling, glazed eyes, difficulty breathing, lethargy, refusal to obey commands, dizziness, lack of coordination, vomiting and collapse.

Dr Watson says heatstroke is an emergency and owners must act immediately before taking their pet to a veterinarian. “Wet the coat thoroughly with cool water, and apply towels soaked in cool water to hairless areas such as the groin, tummy and ‘armpits.’ You should also give them some water to drink in small amounts.” Whether the animal starts to respond or not, they need to be seen by a vet without delay for urgent medical attention.

Animals at particular risk of heatstroke if they are very old or very young, unwell, overweight or not used to prolonged exercise. Additionally, some breeds of dogs with short noses, such as boxers, bulldogs and pugs, can be prone to respiratory distress in extreme heat.

Pets and cars
Pets should never be left alone in cars. Dr Watson says that every summer there are reports of dogs being left alone in cars with often tragic results.

“It was distressing to read earlier this month of a dog that died after being forgotten in a car for hours in soaring heat. Even in the shade or with windows slightly open, the temperature in a vehicle quickly rises and it can become life threatening in just minutes.”

Sunscreen
While there is high awareness about the need for people to apply sunscreen daily to avoid skin cancer, it’s less known that animals are also susceptible to sun-related cancers such as squamous cell carcinomas.
“Sunscreens are available for pets which can be applied to the areas of the skin with little or no hair like the nose, mouth, ears and on the belly.” Veterinarians can advise on appropriate sun blocks for pets.

“However, avoiding the effects of direct sunlight is still the best option to protect your pet,” says Dr Watson.

External parasites
Dogs are particularly vulnerable to fleas, ticks and insect bites in summer. To avoid it being a season of scratching and discomfort for your pet Dr Watson advises pet owners to see their veterinarian who can advise on the best preventive products and management programme suited to their pet.

She also warns that insect bites or stings can lead to an allergic reaction in pets and may need to be treated.

Lakes, rivers and streams - algae poisoning
NZVA advises pet owners to check their local council website for updates on water safety before taking their pet for a refreshing swim.

“We recommend keeping pets away from lakes, rivers and steams, as blue-green algae blooms become more common over summer. Dogs that play, swim or forage around affected areas can suffer from the toxic effects of this algae.”

Clinical signs of algae poisoning depend on the toxin present, however general signs include vomiting, diarrhoea, blood in stool, weakness, disorientation, and seizures. Aggressive, urgent treatment by a veterinarian is needed to treat these quick-acting poisons, which can kill an animal in just hours.

“Summer is a great time for families to get outdoors with their pets and enjoy the warm weather,” says Dr Watson, “but please remember that your pets are sensitive to the effects of the heat and need to be protected too.”

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