Heat in France: Watch out for your pets!! What there is to know

The summer months can be uncomfortable, even dangerous, for animals. Extreme heat can cause exhaustion, or even respiratory or cardiac failure in fragile animals. It is therefore important to protect pets from the heat. To help you keep your pets safe and cool this summer, follow these tips to take care of the health of these family members.

Limit exercise sessions on hot days

Be careful when exercising with your pet in the summer. It is important to adjust the intensity and duration of the exercise according to the temperature. If the weather is very hot, limit the duration of your activities with your pet to the early morning or evening hours.

It is advisable to pay special attention to animals with white ears, which are more susceptible to skin cancer. This is also the case for animals with upturned noses (bulldogs, Pekingese, etc.), which may have difficulty breathing because of the heat. In addition, the asphalt can get very hot and burn your pet’s paws. Therefore, walk your dog on the grass instead if possible. Also, always carry water with you to prevent your dog from becoming dehydrated.

Never leave your pet alone in a car

For the safety of your pets, never leave them alone in a parked vehicle.. Even if the car ignition is on and the air conditioning is on, this is something to avoid. On a hot day, temperatures inside a vehicle can rise quickly and reach levels that are dangerous or even fatal to an animal. In addition, leaving an animal locked up and unattended in a car is illegal in France and punishable by a fine.

It is necessary to supervise your four-legged friend if he is near a swimming pool

Not all dogs and cats are good swimmers. It is for this reason that it is advisable tointroduce your pets to water gradually. If you board a boat, have them wear flotation devices when on boats.

After swimming, rinse your dog or cat to remove chlorine or salt from their fur and try to prevent them from drinking the pool water. The latter contains chlorine and other chemicals that are potentially dangerous for your four-legged friend.

Make sure you know the symptoms of heatstroke in animals

For the safety of your pet, it is recommended to know what the different symptoms of heat stroke are. They include things like excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart rate and breathing, drooling, loss of stamina, or listlessness.

Symptoms may also include seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomiting, and high body temperature. For example, the normal body temperature for a dog is between 38 and 39°C. If it is above 40.5°C, you will need to be careful with your pooch.

Provide enough shade and water

To regulate their body temperature, pets need plenty of water to stay hydrated and a cool, shady place to rest. Whenever your pet is outside, make sure they are protected from heat and sun and have plenty of fresh water available.

During heat waves, add ice to the water when possible. Also, shades from trees and shade sails are perfect for sheltering from the sun, as they don’t obstruct air circulation.