A lot us may be feeling the heat this summer. But spare a thought for your pets. Dogs in particular can suffer when the weather gets hot. Here are our top 10 tips to help you help your animals keep their cool this summer.
- Never leave animals in hot cars, conservatories, outbuildings or caravans, even for a short while.
- Make sure your pets have access to fresh drinking water. You could put ice cubes in the water to keep it cool.
- Put an animal friendly sun cream on exposed parts of your pets’ skin.
- Walk your dogs in the morning or in the evening. Avoid taking them out for a walk in the hottest part of the day to prevent them burning their paws on the tarmac or getting heat stroke.
- If you have fish or amphibians, keep their tanks out of direct sunlight.
- Keep your ponds topped up and create shaded areas for fish by planting aquatic plants such as lilies.
- If you have caged birds keep them out of direct sunlight and ensure aviaries have shaded areas.
- Make sure your birds have access to clean, fresh drinking and bathing water.
- Help garden wildlife by providing fresh water for drinking. Keep it clean and topped up.
- Set up a paddling pool in the garden that your dog can splash around in.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has some more excellent advice on caring for pets, farm animals and wildlife of all kinds on its
website.
