Heat wave in Toulouse: how to avoid heatstroke for our animals?
Our pets also during heat waves. Here is the advice of a Vet-Urgentys veterinarian, to best protect them during these proven episodes.
When it’s very hot, organisms are put to the test, including those of our pets. And all the more so since dogs and cats do not have the possibility of sweating to regulate their internal temperature, unlike humans. “Added to this is the fact that they are forced into a restricted way of life. They have fewer opportunities to escape the heat,” explains Maxence de Jouvencel, founder and associate veterinarian of the Vet-Urgentys emergency clinic in Toulouse.
In the event of a heat wave, dogs and cats will therefore evacuate water vapor through their tongues and breathing. “A hot dog regulates its temperature by panting. It will breathe quickly with a huge tongue protruding from its mouth. The cat does the same, but thanks to its more zen behavior, it supports the heat well, unlike the dog which is an animal always on the move and agitated”, continues the veterinarian.
But how to detect a heat stroke? “If after 10 minutes, the dog has not calmed down at the respiratory level, there is a problem, warns Dr. de Jouvencel. The hotter the animal, the faster it will breathe, and in some cases; when he begins to suffocate, he tends to panic. There, we enter a vicious circle where things escalate on their own. This is even more true for dogs with squashed muzzles. Their extremely small airways regulate their temperature particularly poorly. They are therefore prone to heatstroke. A bull dog that we go for a walk at 2 p.m., in Toulouse, in full sun, can get heat stroke, ”warns Maxence de Jouvencel. Also, is it necessary to take certain precautions, such as taking it out early in the morning or late in the evening, multiplying the water points…
You have to wet them
In case of heatstroke, it is recommended to wet the coat of the animal, showering it abundantly. “If the dog is really soaked, he will cool off immediately. Water at room temperature is enough, no need for it to be ice cold. And five minutes allow the animal to find a calmer breathing. »
In humans as in animals, high heat will increase comorbidity problems. “Cats with kidney failure tend to become dehydrated. With the heat wave, it can swing to the wrong side. The problem is the same with heart animals. When the latter are too hot, they will intensely solicit their breathing but also their heart, and some may decompensate. They must therefore be protected as much as possible,” recommends Maxence de Jouvencel. Finally, if you are traveling with your pets, avoid leaving the vehicle parked in the sun, even with the windows ajar. “A car left in the shade can find itself in the sun thirty minutes later. There, it can go very quickly, ”warns the veterinarian.
Pool, window open… be careful
The high temperatures have also generated many defenestrations in cats, which then take advantage of the opening of doors and windows and can fall by clumsiness. “Tilt and turn windows, because of their V-shape, are terrible for cats who get their stomachs stuck in them,” explains Maxence de Jouvencel, founder and associate veterinarian of the Vet-Urgentys emergency clinic in Toulouse. In summer, animals are also victims of swimming pool accidents, “cats and small dogs are not detected by the alarms. The tarpaulins pass and the roller shutters constitute real traps for them once they are underneath”, regrets Maxence de Jouvencel.
Regarding NAC (new pets) and birds, care must be taken that their cage is placed in a cool space, because prolonged exposure to the sun is not forgiving.