When it gets hot in Australia during the Summer, it can get REALLY hot! While it might be rare, it’s known to get up to as high as 50 degrees in certain areas. As the best animal care online learning shows, this can be a real problem for your pets, particularly as dogs and cats are covered in fur! As such, taking steps to prevent heatstroke in pets can be a life-saver for your furry friends.
What Are The Signs Of Heatstroke In Pets?
Depending on the severity of the problem, heatstroke can manifest in several different ways. As a pet owner, however, you have to be super vigilant during the hot weather, as pets like cats and dogs often don't even let you know they're in pain or distress, making it extremely difficult to detect. The most common symptoms include:
- Excessive panting, drooling, salivating
- Agitation or restlessness
- Very red/ pale gums
- Bright-red tongue.
- Increased or irregular heart rate.
- Difficulty breathing
- Vomiting & Diarrhea
How Do You Prevent Heat Stress In Dogs, Cats & Other Animals?
Take some online training in animal care, and you’ll quickly understand that keeping pets cool in hot weather is very much a question of planning and careful preparation. Here we take a look at a few tips that can do much to help avoid heatstroke in pets so that they can stay happy and healthy when the sun comes out. So, let’s dive in!
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Tip #1 - Make Space In The Shade Available
While creating shade for yourself in the garden, don't forget to make some space out of the sun for your pets. A few minutes out in the sun can be pleasant, but direct sunlight is the primary cause of heatstroke in pets, so having a shaded space for them to retreat to is vital.
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Tip #2 - Make Water Freely Available
Another great way of keeping pets cool is by making cool, fresh water available to them when needed. Pets like dogs can only sweat through the un-furred parts of their body, so keeping them well-hydrated helps them avoid overheating.
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Tip #3 - Plan Your Walks For The Cooler Hours
When talking about canines, you should wait until the midday sun to subside before heading out for walkies. Taking them for their walks in the morning or later in the evening is a great, natural, and effective way of keeping pets cool, and it will mean your dog has a much more pleasant time.
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Tip #4 - Keep Your Pet’s Fur Well Groomed
Another step to avoid heatstroke in pets is to keep their fur well-groomed and knots-free. That's because matting in pet fur can trap heat unnecessarily, further contributing to overheating. The good news is that we offer affordable dog grooming courses you can take to help you in this regard.
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Tip #5 - Never Leave A Pet In A Hot Car
It’s well known that leaving any pet in a hot car can be fatal. However, that doesn’t stop hundreds of dogs left in cars from dying from heatstroke each year. So, as a reminder, our last tip is to say that you should never leave your pet in a hot car.
Of course, there are many other ways you can help your dogs, cats or even your rabbits to stay cool and happy during hot weather. Employ the tips we’ve mentioned, and you’ll have no trouble keeping pets cool. For more info on keeping your pets cool in Summer, visit the RSPCA website.
Enjoy An Animal Care Career With OCA Short Courses Online
Whether you're interested in a career in animal care or simply become a better pet owner, our CPD-Endorsed online courses offer an immersive experience that makes gaining new skills easy, with 1-to-1 mentoring ensuring you're well supported. Modular and video-based, our courses allow you to learn at a pace that you control and in a way that transcends text-based learning.
We're often told that we offer the best online courses Australia can provide by our students, and you can get a feel for why by watching our Student Study Demo. However, if you'd like to see our full library that contains learning that covers 20+ industries, visit us today www.onlinecoursesaustralia.edu.au, where you'll see our flexible payment options that make our cheap courses even more affordable.
Alternatively, if you have any questions or misgivings about enrolling, we'll be more than happy to discuss your needs and identify the ideal solution. To get in touch, simply call 1300 611 404 or email [email protected], and we'll reply as quickly as possible.