Scorching temperatures have prompted Environment Canada to extend heat warnings across the country — and it’s not just humans feeling the heat.
According to veterinarians, dogs, cats, and other furry friends, they can easily heat up in the same conditions that are unhealthy for their owners.
“Pets don’t have sweat glands in their body the way humans do,” Dr. Sarah Machell, Vetster medical director, told Global News’ Your Morning late last month.
“The only place that they have sweat glands is actually in the pads on their feet. And so to evaporate fluids, to help keep them cool, the only way they can do that is through those little paw pads or through panting.”
Environment Canada’s broad heat warning — which forecasts maximum temperatures of the low 40s when combined with humidity — includes parts of southern Ontario, Nova Scotia, Alberta and British Columbia.
Temperatures will cool down for humans and pets on Monday night or Tuesday. However, the heat will return to some parts of Alberta on Wednesday.
Here’s how to tell if your pet is overheating — and what you can do to keep your companion cool.
Pets are very good at hiding their distress, according to Machell — making it important for owners to be stay vigilant during high temperatures.
Excessive panting and irregular behaviour are signs of heat-related discomfort. For example, if you say your pet’s name and they don’t stop panting to look at you or come over to you, that might be a sign they’re overheating, according to Dr. Shane Bateman, a professor in the Ontario Veterinary College’s department of clinical studies.
“You know your pet’s behaviour very well,” Bateman said.
“Can you see that their attention is really focused on panting, or just trying to cool themselves off? (If) they’re actively seeking cool areas and pulling you in those directions — those are warning signs for you.”
If their tongues look very long and there’s lots of a drool, that can also be a sign that they’re overheating, he added. Their gums could also appear quite red.
According to Bateman, vomiting and diarrhea are more serious signs of heat-related problems.
If your pet exhibits any of these symptoms, you’ll want to cool them off right away. Take them to a cool place and give them water. If you have air conditioning, or a fan, turn it off.
You can also fill a bathtub with cool water — not ice-cold water, Bateman said — and fill it up to chest height while splashing your pet. It can be a quick way to cool them down as the water evaporates from their bodies.
If your cooling methods don’t work within the first few minutes, he added, it’s time to call a vet and get professional help for your pet.
According to some veterinarians, the best way to ensure your pets are safe during hot days is to prepare for possible heat waves.
“The most important advice I would have is to plan ahead,” said Bateman.
He said that air conditioning is a great way to keep pets and humans cool. But if you don’t have air conditioning or can’t afford the cost of turning it on, there are other steps you can take to inoculate your home against the perils of hot days.
Bateman stated that a fan can be very useful in cooling your pets. For those extra hot days, there are items you can buy at the pet shop or online.
“There are some newer products on the market that can be frozen or cooled with water,” said Machell.
“They’re called cooling bandanas and cooling vests, and they can be really helpful for some pets.”
Bateman stated that your pet may be able to find relief from heat in a basement or tile floor.
Making sure those “nice, cool tile floors” are accessible for your pets “to rest their non-furry bellies on” can be helpful, he said.
If your home isn’t a friendly place for an overheating animal, make sure you know where you can take them.
Check with your local council to see if they have any cooling or splash pads that are pet-friendly. Or, search for the nearest pond or stream where your furry friend can take a swim.
“Try and get them to parts of the region where they can get soaked and (where) there’s a nice breeze or fan blowing to help them get cool,” Bateman said.
“That evaporation that takes place when their fur is wet — that is the thing that helps the most, really, in trying to keep them cool.”
While veterinarians recommend you prepare in advance to be able to keep your pet cool, the heat is already here — so here’s what you can do today to keep your pet healthy now.
It’s vital to keep fresh water accessible at all times, Machell said. You can use tricks like putting ice cubes in the water to make it “cooler” and “more appealing,” she added.
It’s also a good idea to change up your daily routine if you tend to vigorously exercise your pet in the middle of the day.
“Really vigorous aerobic activity — that should absolutely be planned for the very early morning or the very late evening when the air is cooler,” Bateman said.
If you do take your dog on a walk, you’ll want to modify your route to make sure there’s water and shade nearby, he added, and stop for breaks so your pet can cool off. Even an animal’s normal walk can “push them over the edge” if it’s too hot outside, Bateman warned.
He said you’ll also want to watch where you walk with your pet. If your route takes you over sidewalks, concrete, asphalt or other easily-heated surfaces, your animal’s paws could get hurt.
“If we were to walk on our in our bare feet on those very hot surfaces, we would know how uncomfortable it can be for pets,” Machell said.
Stick instead to grass or dirt paths, she said, that don’t get as hot.
Finally, whatever you do, don’t leave your pet alone in a car — even if you have the air conditioning on, or won’t be gone for long, Machell said.
“Hopefully everyone at this point is clearly aware that dogs and cats — or any animal — and hot cars do not go together,” he said.
While dogs are “the species that are at highest risk” of heat-related health issues, Bateman warned that other animals — including farm animals, such as horses, could also face an elevated risk of getting ill during the heatwave.
He explained that farm animal owners will want to ensure that their animals have access to shade, water, and bodies water they can walk into to cool down.
Like other pets, farm animals owners should also be aware of unusual behaviour.
Bateman said that even wild animals can be affected by heat. Deer and other wildlife will likely find a cool or shaded spot to beat the heat.
Bateman warned that if you startle them, they may leave their safe resting place.
“You don’t want to disturb those animals,” he said.
— with files from The Canadian Press
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