7 care you should have with your cat or dog in the heat

On hot days, it is normal to pay attention to our diet and hydration, to the use of adequate sunscreen, safe sunglasses, the freshest clothes and even the best perfumes and nail polishes for high temperatures. Anyone who is a cat and dog tutor needs to be careful with them too, as pets suffer from high temperatures and sun exposure.

We talked to veterinarians Raphael Hamaoui (from Hospital Veterinário Cães e Gatos 24h) and Jorge de Morais (from Animal Place) to find out what fundamental care should be taken with pets in hot weather. Let’s go to them!

Have the deworming of dogs and cats up to date

“As a prevention, it is interesting that dogs and cats are dewormed in the summer, because the chances of catching worms are greater in the heat”, says Jorge. And unidentified worms in time can lead to weight loss, lack of appetite and even compromise of vital organs.

Prevention is better than needing to treat your weakened pet on an emergency basis.

Make sure dogs and cats are always hydrated

Pets usually make it very clear when they are hungry – they bark or meow around the food bowl, some even drag it empty near the tutors -, but they hardly indicate that they are thirsty. Turns out hydration is just as important as food, especially on hot days. Dehydrated animals become discouraged, even lose the desire to eat and may slowly wither away.

Keep their water pots full at all times. Use fresh filtered water and change it every 4 hours at least. On very hot days, you can put some ice cubes in the water. They love!

Plan to walk the dogs at the best times

Unlike cats, which are independent and rarely accept a collar and leash for a walk on the street, dogs need to be taken for a walk at least twice a day.

The best times to do dog walks on warm spring/summer days are before 8am and after 6pm. In addition to the incidence of the sun, at these times the ground is not so hot. Which brings us to the next item.

Do not take dogs for a walk on asphalt or hot pavement.

Dogs are capable of enduring an entire walk burning their coxins – the pads on their paws – without complaint. “Often, they arrive at the clinic with severe, second-degree burns,” says Raphael.

It is up to tutors, therefore, to be careful not to subject them to floors at high temperatures. A good way to know if the floor is too hot is to step with your bare feet on the sidewalk, street or environment where you intend to walk your dog. If it’s ok for you, it will be for him; if you can’t stand the heat on the soles of your feet, you can be sure he’ll burn himself if he steps there.

In case you are in doubt, put little shoes (pet gloves) on their paws.

With cats, you don’t have to worry about this, because they jump out as soon as they feel the hot floor and then seek shelter on a surface that doesn’t burn them.

Always keep the environment where the pet is airy

Dogs and cats don’t sweat, which means they may have more difficulty maintaining proper body temperature – and consequently, greater risk of hyperthermia.

Whenever possible, keep the windows open (they should be screened, as responsible dog and especially cat owners know), so that air circulates and they stay cool. If this is not possible, use a fan or air conditioning so that the temperature in the house is always mild.

If you notice that your dog or cat has a very high temperature, go immediately to the vet and, please, do not give animals human medicine. The vet will indicate the best treatment to lower the temperature and ensure your pet’s well-being.

Be aware of precautions when traveling by car with dogs or cats

Just like your house or apartment, the car must be air-conditioned for a trip with dogs or cats. Leave the air conditioning on throughout the journey.

As pets tend to get sick with the car rocking, ask the veterinarian to indicate a calming or floral suitable for the breed and size of the animal. The journey will be smoother for everyone.

Use a carrier to transport your pet in the car. If it is a large dog, it must be in the back seat, with the collar and leash attached to a specific seat belt adapter for this purpose, easily found in pet stores.

Finally, avoid taking very long trips with dogs and cats in the car. Sometimes it’s unavoidable, we know, so schedule 15-minute breaks every two hours so the dog can go for a walk or the cat can recover from the car swaying.

Put sunscreen on your cat or dog

Cats and dogs are subject to skin cancer, especially the lighter ones. To avoid this, put special sunscreen for animals on your pet’s face, paying extra attention to the tips of the ears, the snout and the “eyebrow” – the part above the eyelids -, which are the regions that are most burned.

Cats won’t like it very much, but hold on tight, spray the product on and don’t mind how they look at you afterwards. It’s for their own good.