• English
    • English
    • Polish
Allcare Ireland's logo
Allcare Ireland's home page
  • Contact Us(064) 6637333
  • Get in touch
Get in touch
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
  • Services
    • Laparoscopy
  • Offers
  • Blog
  • Online Payment
  • Contact Us

Handling the Hot Weather

May 18 2018, 17:00
Share

Notes on looking after your dog, cat or rabbits during the warmer months...

As summer approaches, it's important to remember that our furry friends aren't as equipped for coping in heatwaves as we are. It's our responsibility as their owners to keep them safe, cool, healthy and happy during the hot weather. 

 

Hot Cars

NEVER leave your dog in a locked car when it’s hot outside. This is one of the biggest health concerns for vets during the summer months.
Even with the window cracked open, even if you’re just nipping to the shop, temperatures in cars can rise to deadly levels very quickly … dogs die in hot cars!

 

Protect your Pet’s Skin

Pets get sunburnt too! Light-coloured animals can be prone to skin cancer; to reduce this risk, be sure to apply sun cream (that's right, you can buy special sun cream for pets) to white and pink areas of their skin, particularly the tips of the ears.

 

Avoid Dog Walks in the Heat

Avoid walking your dog during the hottest parts of the day and on longer walks, always make sure you take plenty of water.
Concrete and asphalt can heat up and burn your dog’s footpads when they walk on it. You can see how hot the pavement is by placing the back of your hand (or your bare feet) on it and holding for 11 seconds. If it’s too hot for your hand, it’s most likely too hot for your dog’s paws!

Check Bunnies & Guinea Pigs for Fly Strike

Fly Strike can occur very quickly in hot temperatures. To reduce the risk of Fly Strike and to keep your rabbits/guinea pigs protected, be sure to check their behinds for fly eggs and maggots - at least once daily. You should also change their bedding every day. Fly Strike treatments usually last up to 6 weeks.

 

Summer Haircut

We humans don't walk about in thick fur coats when it's sunny - and with good reason! To keep your dog cool and fresh this summer, why not book them in for an appointment with a groomer? 

 

Frozen Treats

Is there anything more satisfying than an ice-lolly on a hot summer's day? Why not pop your dog’s Kong in the freezer and give it to them as a cool and refreshing treat. Frozen water bottles pressed against rabbits and guinea pigs are a great way of keeping them cool.

 

Allergies

During the summer months, we see a lot more pets who suffer from skin allergies as a result of the higher pollen count. To help ease allergies, make sure your pet’s fur is clipped short and wash them thoroughly after walks in long, grassy areas. 

Watch Out for Foxtails and Grass Seeds

Check your dog’s pads after walking in long grassy areas. If unnoticed, grass seeds or foxtails embed into pet's footpads; this often takes surgery to remove. If you notice any lameness, hot ears or head shaking, seek veterinary attention.

 

Heatstroke

Watch out for signs of heatstroke such as collapsing, rapid panting, excessive drooling and sticky gums. Be sure that your pets have constant access to fresh, clean drinking water and a shaded area they can go to when they're too hot.

 

If your pet is suffering from any of the conditions mentioned in this article, you should seek immediate veterinary attention.

We hope you find these tips useful. Please feel free to share this post and do not hesitate to contact us for any further info.

Share
View all blogs

Explore

HomeAbout UsServicesOffersBlogOnline PaymentContact Us

Respecting your privacy

Cookie PolicyPrivacy NoticeTerms of UseComplaints PolicyTerms of Sale for Veterinary Services

Get the latest All Care Veterinary Hospital news


Copyright © 2023 Milltown Veterinary Services Ltd

Company's registered name: Milltown Veterinary Services Ltd

Registered number: 522377

Registered Address: 2 Shelbourne Buildings, Crampton Avenue, Shelbourne Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, Ireland

Menu

  • English
    • English
    • Polish
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
  • Services
    • Laparoscopy
  • Offers
  • Blog
  • Online Payment
  • Contact Us
  • Get in touch

Call Us

  • Contact Us number
  • See all contact details
  • Get in touch

Our Cookies

We use cookies and similar technologies to offer you a personalised experience, personalised advertising, and analyse our web traffic. Click 'Accept our cookies' if you would like to allow all cookies. Alternatively, you can choose which types of cookies you would like to accept or disable by clicking 'Turn cookies on or off' below. For more information, please see our cookie policy.

About Cookies

Our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users of our website. This helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browser our website and also allows us to improve our website. See our cookie policy.

Cookie settings

We use 3 different types of cookies on our website. You can say which ones you're happy for us to use below.

Functional cookies

These cookies do things like keep the website secure. They always need to be on.

Analytics cookies

These cookies store information about how you use our website, such as what you click on.

Marketing cookies

These cookies do things like tell us if you've seen our adverts on social media, such as Facebook or Twitter.