Dogs
Please, please, don’t walk your dogs after about 8am today. It’s not necessary – missing a walk or two won’t do them any harm. Usually, my advice is to walk in the ‘cooler evenings’ but we don’t seem to be getting those – it’s just hotter and hotter. So, a short early morning walk (if anything) is the best bet. If your dog likes to swim, driving them in an air-conditioned car to the beach for a dunk is also fine – just don’t let them overdo it on the exercise, it’s more about getting out and keeping cool than it is about keeping fit today.
Keep them indoors if possible, use fans, and get their fur wet at regular intervals if necessary. Make sure they have plenty of water. You can make dog ice lollies from some frozen wet food mixed with a little water (an old yoghurt pot makes a good mould) – this gives them some mental stimulation while also keeping them cool.
Many dogs enjoy some water play (paddling pools or spraying with a hose) but do be careful they don’t overdo it drinking the water (e.g. while snapping at it), as this can be fatal.
It’s a bit late now, but heavily-coated dogs can have their stomach shaved to help them lose heat through conduction. This is a hotly-debated topic (often accompanied by an image from a heat sensor camera and some bad interpretation of science) but the vet consensus is that it helps, and vet friends in South Africa and other hot countries routinely shave dogs to keep them cool. Yes, they’ll be prone to sunburn (you can mitigate this by only shaving the underside). And yes, it can grow back a bit funny sometimes, but I’d rather a happy, comfortable dog.
Remember, brachycephalic (short-snouted) breeds like pugs and French bulldogs have decreased ability to cool themselves through panting – take even more care.
Cats
Cats mostly look after themselves as usual, and their higher normal body temperature means they’re more comfortable with heat anyway, but you should still make sure they have free access to somewhere cool to reach if needed, and don’t accidentally lock them in sheds or conservatories. Unless it will cause your cat a lot of stress to be shut in, or your house gets very hot, it’s best to keep your cats inside in case they get shut in somewhere while trying to find a cooler spot. If you normally walk your cat, it goes without saying that you shouldn’t.
Make sure they have water available – cats are bad drinkers at the best of times, so several bowls around the house and a water fountain are good bets. You can also add a small amount of water to wet food to increase water intake. Feel free to try some frozen wet food, but most cats won’t enjoy this as they’re averse to new food textures.
Keeping blinds down and curtains shut keeps rooms cool and stops some silly cats lying in windows getting too hot.
Rabbits and guinea pigs
At this time of year, we often put our small furries out on the lawn. But, in this heat, it’s essential they have enough shade – not just a wooden box to hide in, but actual tree shade over some or all of their run, for all of the day. If this isn’t possible (and rigging something up over the washing line won’t work) then it’s best to keep them indoors, in a cool part of the house. Don’t just put them in their winter hutch/shed – it’s likely to get much too hot.
Again, check their water, and if you use a bottle make sure it’s working. In fact, it’s safer to provide a shallow bowl as well – and I’d even add a second water bottle as a backup. Wrapping the bottle in a beer cooler can help to stop it heating in the sun. You can also soak their vegetables in a little water.
An ice pack, with a towel over it, can give them a choice of somewhere cool to lie. Alternatively, a ceramic tile or small piece of marble can be refrigerated and placed in the run for a cool surface to lie on.
Hamsters, mice, etc
These creatures have very little ability to move to find a cooler spot, so it’s essential that their cage is kept out of direct sunlight. Move it to a cool part of the house temporarily, aiming for 24C as a maximum. Be careful any fans aren’t too fierce or aimed directly at the cage – you don’t want to overdo it as hypothermia is a risk too.
Again, check their water is sufficient and working. As with rabbits and guinea pigs, a small ceramic tile or piece of marble – potentially cooled in the fridge first – can help them have somewhere to cool off if needed.
Don’t mist or bathe these small furries – it’s dangerous.
Stay safe everyone, safely enjoy it if you can, and start thinking ahead to next year – why not plan to plant a tree or two for some shade?
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