How Hot Weather Affects Your Pets
How Hot Weather Affects Your Favorite Pets
by Tom Paxton

Come summertime every year, we humans are always all too eager to slip on our swimming apparel and scurry onto the outdoors or the beaches. Our overeager furry friends tag along with us. However, we must not judge the way our pets feel in hot weather, and we must be mindful that animals and birds have cooling mechanisms different from humans.
A cautious approach must be followed, whether you live in a place with a very mild climate or one with a lot of extremes. For example, the weather in Byron Bay, a beachside town in Australia, might seem pleasant all year round. But a look at the highest averages will show you that on some days the temperature can go as high as 29.8°C (85.6°F). Have a look at the weather in your area and you might be surprised by the extremes.
Humans have sweat glands from head to toe. We sweat all over and are efficient in cooling ourselves down. It was this ability that made us great endurance hunters in the past and we could ensure the continuity of our species.
On the other hand, dogs and cats only sweat through their paws and noses (and not their tongues). Birds and rabbits don’t sweat at all. So how does hot weather affect your:
Dogs
For canines, the primary mode of cooling is through panting. Water evaporates from their lungs, tongues, and mouth. If the dog is outdoors, provide it with a shallow pool of water. For example, a kid’s inflatable pool will allow it to sit or lie in it and cool itself down. You can also give them some icy treats. Freeze some dog munchies into ice cubes and hand them out throughout the hot summer day.
When it’s very hot outside, skip the exercise for that day. When a dog is out and about it is very close to the road surface. Because of this, the body can heat up very quickly. National Geographic tells us how hot asphalt can burn a dog’s soft paws within minutes.
Cats
Wonder why cats love licking themselves? It’s a cooling mechanism. Like dogs, they too only sweat through their paws and noses. This isn’t enough, which is why they groom their fur. The saliva evaporates, taking away the heat along with it. On hot summer days, it is best to keep a cat indoors during the hottest time of the day, which is usually between 10 am to 2 pm.
Keep a drip open for the cat as well. You can keep the drinking bowl under a dripping tap in the kitchen, so the water remains cool throughout the day. Keep playtime limited on hot days. Remember that playing indoors is most likely the most physically demanding thing that your cat has to do. If you have tiled floors remove the carpets or mats from that area so that the cat has a cool spot to lie down in.
Rabbits
They are highly sensitive to extreme temperatures. According to the ASPCA, animals with flat faces are especially susceptible to heat strokes. If you are a rabbit owner, you need to be especially careful when temperatures go above 28°C.
It would be best not to keep the hutch facing direct sunlight, even on cool days. Try to place an ice brick inside their habitat, so it brings down the overall temperature. Wet towels on the floor will also help. Remember that ventilation is key. If the hutch is kept indoors, it must be ventilated, so keep windows in that area open.
Birds
Birds are another group of pets that are also very prone to suffer from hot and humid weather. The mechanism that birds follow for cooling is through rapid breathing. The main wing arterial regions, the featherless areas under the wings need the most attention. Dampen that area with a wet sponge from time to time. Ensure that this area is always clean since birds use this area to cool themselves down. A gentle spray bottle can also be used to cool the birds down. Allow them to dry naturally in an area that is well ventilated.
Birds do not drink warm water at all. So even more than cats their drinking water must be kept cool. It is an excellent idea to have birdbaths that have a cycling water system.
How Hot Weather Affects Your Favorite Pets
Lastly, for owners of other kinds of pets, if they are caged, ensure that the cages are not metal. If they are, keep them indoors for the season. If you have an aquarium, keep it away from the windows since the thick glass can have a magnifying effect.