How to protect our pets from the heat? - Heat wave: your questions, our answers

Extreme heat doesn’t just hurt us: our pets can suffer too. Pauline Ribault-Talon, veterinarian at the Saint-Pierre clinic in Brest, gives us some advice on how to refresh our animals and avoid heatstroke, which can have serious, even fatal consequences.

Heatstroke and sunburn: Think sunscreen

“Heatstroke can happen quickly, for example if an animal is left locked up in a car, if it has put in a lot of physical effort or if it doesn’t have sufficient access to water,” explains Dr Pauline Ribault-Talon . “There will then be rales with an elevated respiratory rate and mucous membranes turning blue. It can also lead to syncope, vomiting, diarrhea, foam forming around the mouth and rectal temperature above 40°C”, describes the veterinarian, who explains that if this pathology mainly affects dogs, cats or rabbits, they can also be affected.

If your pet is showing symptoms, you need to act quickly. “First, soak the towels in the water and cover the pet with them. The water must not be frozen, as this can create chills and make the situation worse», advises the specialist. “Then let the animal cool down and when his temperature drops to around 39°C, call the vet. This is important because heatstroke can cause sequelae, especially renal or neurological ones.

Also beware of sunburn: “animals with light coats with sensitivity to UV rays, especially on the ears and nose, or hairless cats such as Sphinxes, can take it quite a bit”, notes the vet. “In these cases, don’t hesitate to put on sunscreen.” But not just any: “I recommend using a special cream, which can be found in pet shops or at the vet”.

Moisten, moisturize and do not expose to the sun

To avoid these various disturbances, the best solution is still to expose the animals as little as possible to the sun. “Leave your pets in the shade, make water available. Moisten them regularly, then dry them well so that no film of water remains which creates a magnifying effect. And above all, don’t leave them in the car! “, hammers the specialist.

If some people have the idea of ​​shaving their dog’s hair so that it is less hot, the vet advises against it. “We remove a mass and it can be effective for some dogs. But it will also expose your skin to UV rays. And it also depends on the type of hair: some are insulating, they help regulate heat.

Rabbits, among the most fragile

As far as rabbits are concerned, great caution is needed: “rabbits are ten times more sensitive than dogs or cats, and they have heart disease. You really shouldn’t put it outside in hot weather, but leave it inside preferably under air conditioning. You can moisten it with a washcloth, but be careful not to get water into your ear canals.

In turtles, on the other hand, “there is a risk of drying out but it depends on the species, in general they are quite resistant”, observes Dr. Ribault-Talon. “There’s nothing special for turtles to do except put them in the shade. And for sea turtles, remember to always give them access to water, filled enough”.

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