THE Philippines is experiencing great heat and dryness, possibly aggravated due to El Niño, a climate pattern known as the “warm phase,” often leading to weather events such as droughts, wildfires, and heatwaves.
In March, it was found that this year’s El Niño is one of the strongest five to date. As a result, many Filipinos struggle to cope with its effects, particularly the extreme heat. In March, around 118 cases of heat exhaustion were recorded by the Department of Health.
Humans, however, aren’t the only ones that can fall victim to the heat during this time. Animals are also at great risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion, and the like, which is why it’s important to know what you can do to keep your pet safe no matter how strong El Niño gets.
To keep your pet safe, here are some tips recommended for you.
- Avoid the sun.
While you can still walk your pet, try to limit the amount of exposure they get to the heat, and keep them in shady spots as much as you can. You can also choose to walk your pet at cooler times of the day, such as early in the morning or at night.
It’s also best to avoid hot surfaces as this can hurt your pet’s paws. As per the American Red Cross, “If it’s hot enough to fry an egg, it’s too hot for your dog to walk on.”
And of course, never leave your pet alone in a parked car, regardless of the weather, but especially now due to the extreme heat. Cars can reach up to 120 degrees even if you have the windows rolled down, and you don’t want to put your pet through that.
- Keep them hydrated and cool.
If you can, keep the fans and air conditioning running in your home to keep your pets cool. If you have a pool, let them have a little swim, though be sure that they’re supervised at all times. You can also invest in a hand fan for when you bring them outside.
Cooling mats are also a great way to avoid heat exhaustion, as well as placing damp towels down for them to lie on. Some shops sell cooling clothing such as coats or bandanas which which help your pet to keep cool.
Freezable chew toys are also a way to go, or even just allowing them to run through the sprinklers will do wonders.
If you’re going out, invest in pet-friendly sun cream, which will help to avoid sunburns. This should especially be applied to your pet’s more sensitive areas such as their nose, lips, ears, and belly.
It’s also recommended to keep more than one bowl of water inside your home to avoid dehydration and to always bring water for them when you’re going out for a walk.
- Don’t forget to groom them.
Grooming your pet is something that should never be neglected, especially if their fur is on the thicker side.
As per the Medivet Group, grooming them also helps to get rid of shedding fur, which helps more air to cool the surface of their skin.
Remember however that you should avoid shaving your pet during the summer, as this may make them more prone to getting sunburns.
- Be wary of parasites.
Often, insects such as fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes are more prone to come out due to the hot weather.
As such, be sure to keep your pet safe with treatments that’ll keep these pests away, and check their fur from time to time just to be safe.
Don’t neglect their regular visits to the vet as well so that they can be double-checked for any parasites you might have missed.
- Take note of the warning signs.
It’s important to remember that in this weather, animals with thicker coats or short noses are much more prone to heat stroke. Regardless of your pet’s breed, though, you should continue to monitor them nonetheless.
Be sure to look out for the warning signs that your pet may be suffering from heatstroke or heat exhaustion. Some symptoms are as follows:
- Reduced / loss of appetite
- Heavy panting, drooling, and an inability to calm down
- Brick red coloring of the gums
- Glazed eyes
- Excessive thirst
- Lack of coordination
- A deep red or purple tongue
- Sudden seizures
- Fast pulse rate
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Inability to stand up, lethargy, or general weakness
If your pet starts to exhibit any of these symptoms, try to cool them down by giving them water wetting them, or placing ice packs and cold towels on their body, then take them to the vet as soon as possible.
Take note, though, that if your dog starts to show symptoms of irritability, this may not be because of the heat, but rather because of rabies.
As such, it’s important to ensure that your pet’s vaccinations are up to date, since not having your pets vaccinated for rabies is a violation of the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007; here, you will be fined PHP 2, 000 if your dog is not registered or vaccinated and PHP 500 if your dog has no leash.
As per Anna Cabrera, the Executive Director at PAWS, in a report from the government-run TV station PTV, it’s also important to have your pet spayed or neutered for fewer complications and risks in the long run.
In her words: “Walang asong gala kung walang taong pabaya.”
Keep your dogs cool this season, but don’t forget to keep them safe and keep them close, too.
