Five ways to keep your animals safe on hot days

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Five ways to keep your animals safe on hot days

With hot summer days already among us, many sun loving Australians are keen to get out and enjoy the warmer weather with their furry companions. But with warm weather also comes some important factors to be mindful of in keeping our animal companions happy and healthy. Here are five key ways to keep animals safe when temperatures are high.

RSPCA Australia
Friday, 13 December 2024

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With hot summer days already among us, many sun loving Australians are keen to get out and enjoy the warmer weather with their furry companions. But with warm weather also comes some important factors to be mindful of in keeping our animal companions happy and healthy. Here are five key ways to keep animals safe when temperatures are high.

Take precautions when cooling down at the beach.

A beach day can be a great way to cool off during the warm weather, but it’s important to take the proper precautions to ensure your dog can safely enjoy the day as much as you do. Firstly, avoid visiting during the hottest part of the day. Dogs don’t sweat, they cool themselves through panting, lying on a cool surface and drinking cool water, and these methods they use to cool themselves are less efficient in hot and humid weather conditions. This is especially true for breeds that are predisposed to heat stress such as thick-coated retrievers or malamutes, or flat faced (brachycephalic) breeds such as French bulldogs or pugs. For these dogs especially, on hot days it’s best to keep them indoors in the cool with air conditioning or a fan on.

If the weather is mild and you do decide to bring your dog to the beach, be sure to set up camp under a tent or beach umbrella and bring plenty of cool water to keep them hydrated. It's also good to be mindful that just as hot sand is painful to human feet, the same is true for dog’s paw pads, so if it’s too hot for you, it will be too hot for your dog.

Don’t leave your littlest companions outside.

Because smaller companion animals like rabbits, birds, guinea pigs, rats and mice are often kept in cages or hutches, it can be harder for them to seek out cooler places for themselves. Bring them inside into a cool well-ventilated room as they may overheat, even in a shaded area in the backyard.

Avoid walking your dog during the middle of the day.

Avoid exercising your pet in the extreme heat – on very hot days, try to walk your dog early in the morning or late in the evening when it’s cool. Avoid walking on hot sand, concrete or asphalt. If you can’t hold the back of your hand to the pavement outside for more than a few seconds, it’s too hot for your pet. 

Keep your cat indoors when temperatures soar.

When the weather is hot, keeping cats indoors where it is cool with a fan or air conditioning running is one of the best ways to keep them safe and cool. You can also help your cat cope with the heat by keeping their coats short and tangle free and gently stroking them with a damp cloth. You can also provide them with cooling mats which they can choose to lie on if they are hot. It’s also good to keep in mind that cats have sweat glands on their paws and wet paw prints may be a sign they are hot. Make sure they are able to access cool areas and always have plenty of cool clean water available to help them regulate their temperature and stay hydrated.

Lastly, NEVER leave your animal alone in your car or ute – even with the windows down and parked in the shade.

These precautions are not enough to stop your pet overheating. The temperature inside the car can climb dangerously in a short amount of time (to as much as double the outside temperature or even higher). Leaving an animal in a hot car can quickly be fatal, even on a milder day or if the car is parked in the shade. If you see a distressed animal alone in a car, please seek immediate assistance.

By keeping these tips in mind, you can help see your loyal companions safely through the warm weather and help you both have a happy festive season.

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