Hot Pets

As we approach the hottest time of the year, spare a thought for our pets.

Dogs and cats of any breed that have long or thick coats should be clipped off for summer. Most people only think to clip their pet if it has severe knots or matting of the coat, however any pet with a long or thick coat will be most appreciative if you have it clipped.

Many times I have heard people say that a dog`s long coat is ``insulating`` the dog against the heat but this is untrue, the coat is just plain hot! A newly clipped pet will often frolic like a puppy again because it feels so good. The same goes for cats!

Heatstroke is also common in dogs and cats, mostly due to confinement in unventilated areas or being tied up in the hot sun but also as a result of excessive exercise in hot weather. You can help your pets combat the heat by providing plenty of cool water, cool baths and hosing them off regularly during the heat of the day.

If you must exercise in the heat, please leave your dog at home, it`s thermo-regulation is not as good as yours.