The past couple of weeks have seen soaring temperatures in different areas right around Australia. If you're like me, you've been doing whatever you can to stay cool – operating fans and airconditioning units around the home and office, wearing lightweight clothing, staying in the shade when it becomes necessary to venture outside, and so on and so forth.
But what do you do when it comes to your pets? How can you ensure that you have taken all measures to keep your animals in comfort while you are away from your home? Given that so many people are currently facing this dilemma, I thought I would use this blog to explore the ways that you can keep your pets at ease during the hotter parts of the year.
Firstly, similar to humans, it is important to keep animals hydrated when it is hot. Dogs, and even cats to an extent, can sometimes nudge their water bowls, disrupting their water supply and putting themselves at risk of dehydration.
According to an article that appeared in the West Australian, 'Keeping pets cool in summer', there are a variety of options that can be purchased from your local pet store to circumvent this dilemma. These include non-slip bowls and chew tows that can be filled with water and frozen (thus having the added advantage of keeping your pets cooler for longer).
You may also like to consider having more than one water bowl filled up to the top when you leave home in the morning.
Both dogs and cats tend to become excited and playful and like to run around. With the hot weather, this will often tire them out. When you do see them after arriving home, try to discourage large bursts of activity and calm them down quickly – this will lead to greater comfort for your animal.
Try not to forget about the pets that reside in cages around your home such as birds, rabbits and guinea pigs. Ensure that these cages are in shaded areas, again with supplies of water and food regularly checked in the morning and night.
For external fish ponds, remember to monitor water levels when you are at home. With heat comes the evaporation of water, putting your fish at risk if levels become too low.
Remember, if you're feeling the heat, then the chances are that your pets are probably suffering as well. Try to be mindful of this and keep water supplies up and activity at a minimum, especially in the middle of the day. This will help your pet to endure the heat in a much more comfortable way.