6 FEEDING TIPS FOR HOT WEATHER

1- Avoid feeding them at the hottest hours of the day.

2- Never feed them before taking them out for a walk or before playtime.

3- Always provide them with fresh water, which may even include ice or be frozen, and, should they spend a lot of time alone, leave several bowls of water at their disposal.

4- You can make them ice cream with water and little pellets of food to feed them during the hottest hours of the day and keep them from eating too much, while making it easier for them to spend their time, with ice cream that refreshes, entertains, and hydrates!

5- You can also moisten their feed to increase their water intake, especially with fresh water.

6-As for dogs, you can give them fresh fruits and vegetables: watermelon, apple, pear, banana, zucchini, cucumber, pumpkin, etc. as a treat and as long as it is not counter-indicated for any reason. You can also blend it and give it to them as a snack.

Heat resistance.

There are many variations concerning resistance to heat among different individuals:

· Size: the bigger the dog, the more it will suffer from high temperature.

· Fur: Nordic animals or those with a dense fur can hardly dissipate heat.

· Weight: not being at its optimum weight will act against its thermoregulation.

· Health: there are diseases that make some animals more sensitive to high temperatures.

· Character: the most active animals will increase their temperature faster, some may even have anxiety attacks due to the heat that will make them increase their body temperature even more.

That's why it's so important that we help them keep their bodies at a natural temperature.

Dogs and cats DO NOT SWEAT like humans do. Skin sweating like in humans occurs in horses, hippos and primates (no, pigs do not sweat like humans either). The only cat that sweats through its skin is the Sphynx cat, which releases a very specific type of greasy fat which is characteristic of this breed.

How do cats and dogs keep cool?

They sweat through the pads of their paws, they pant to remove temperature through the air and the tongue, and they lie down on cold surfaces with their most exposed areas (belly, chest or neck).

We hope that you are clear about how to help your little furry friends or those animals you run into during this hot season.

Don't forget them, offer all your little furry friends enough fresh water, nutritious yet light meals, and plenty of shade whenever possible.

So, what should you do if you find an animal that is overheated, on the verge of heat stroke or in a serious state of hyperthermia?

The first thing is to move it to a shade, cool it down little by little (you can pour water at room temperature or cold water on the belly, armpits, neck, ears, to lower the temperature), try to keep it conscious, do not offer water until you are sure that it is capable of swallowing. The water should be room temperature and the animal should drink little by little, do not let it drink too much at once. Once the animal has stabilised, it must be taken to a clinic for treatment and recovery.

María González.
Founder of Refugio La Vida Color Frambuesa and vet for VeggieAnimals.