Joey’s Summer Safety Message

By Scott Lackenby | Dated December 14, 2017

Man is it hot! A little too hot for this black cat. I can’t be outside during the day because I might melt. But I can’t spend too much time outside in the late afternoon/evening because I have a curfew. You stay out late a few times and suddenly you are confined by a curfew. There are a lot of rules and regulations being a clinic cat.

With school holidays just around the corner and lots of families planning summer holidays, I thought it’d  be a good time to talk about some of the common hazards to your pets during the summer months.

• Creepy critters and slithery things

We all know that the ticks are out in force. So are the fleas. Applying regular preventatives to your pet will help to keep these critters at bay. Ticks can be deadly, so it’s super important to be using the best preventative for your pet at the appropriate interval to give your pet the best possible coverage. For advice on which product is right for you and your pet,  just pop in and have a chat to one of our amazing nurses. This time of year also sees snakes on the move. Snakes like long grass and places to sun themselves. Be snake aware, especially if you are walking in bush areas with your dog.  If you think your pet has been bitten by a snake, get them to a Vet ASAP.

• Keeping Pocket Pets safe

Little critters like birds, rabbits and guinea pigs are especially vulnerable when the mercury rises. They struggle more with regulating their body temperature. If possible, when it’s hot, bring them inside. If not, make sure they are in a shady spot and they have heaps of water. These little guys can very easily die in the heat. A good tip is to put a frozen water bottle in the bottom of their cage/hutch. It acts like their very own air con!

• It’s getting hot in here

Going for a drive with your pet? Just remembered that you are out of milk? Tempted to just quickly pop in to the shops and grab it while your furry friend hangs out in the car? Don’t do it!! Animals die in hot cars. Even cars that are parked in the shade and have the windows down. The temperature in the car can easily and quickly climb to 10’C above the outside temp. Last year celebrity chef Matt Moran OVERCOOKED lamb in a car parked at Bondi Beach. The inside temp of the car reached 83’C!!! If you are taking your pets on holidays with you, be sure to make regular stops along the way for a pee break, leg stretch and a drink. That’s great advice for you humans too!

Just checking out a client’s jeep

• Exercising in the heat

Use your common sense here people. Going for a run or chasing a ball in the middle of the day is no fun for anyone. Instead, enjoy either an early morning or late afternoon walk when things are a little cooler. The concrete and road should be cooler then too, so you are less likely to burn the pads of your dogs feet. Yep, they can get burnt on the hot ground. A good rule of thumb, if you can’t comfortably stand on the concrete in bare feet, then it’s too hot for us. Like you humans, we can also suffer from heat stroke. Should your pet be suffering from heat stroke, be sure to get them to a Vet ASAP. We can die from it. We can also die if you try and lower our temperature too quickly. If you think your pet is suffering from heat stroke, wet towels with cool water and wrap them in them until you can get them to the Vet. Never submerge them in a cold bath or use ice.

• Looking after the Wild ones

They may be tough, but our wonderful wildlife can also suffer the effects of these hot Aussie summers. But you can help them out by having containers of water around your garden. Just make sure they are in shady spots and aren’t going to leave the wild ones vulnerable to being attacked by cats and dogs.

Well better go. It’s almost cool enough for me to be outside. Catch you all next week! Meows for now, love Joey xoxo