Chief veterinarian Dr Bronwyn Oke said hot weather could impact the safety of all pets, and could be devastating to animals.
“Heat stroke is potentially deadly and occurs quickly for many pets,” Dr Oke said.
“It can occur even after a cool change comes through, with footpaths and concrete continuing to radiate heat, creating high temperatures at ground level.”
Symptoms of heat stroke in pets include excessive panting, vomiting, diarrhoea and very bright or pale gums.
“If your pet is displaying these symptoms, or you’re concerned, call your vet immediately,” Dr Oke said.
Echuca-Moama Veterinarian Clinic’s Dr Mark Wheatley said it was important for pet owners to make sure their animals didn’t perform strenuous activity on hot days to avoid overheating.
“Unnecessary exercise, ball chasing, that sort of stuff. Sometimes, overheating has occurred in animals with things like wave chasing,” he said.
Dr Wheatley said the excitement of certain activities could override an animal’s capacity to take care of themselves.
“When you get humans involved, going and wanting to do something with them, they can get into trouble,” he said.
“We don’t realise that they’re hot because we’re driving them to do activity.”
Pugs and other short-nosed dogs are more prone to overheating than other breeds and require more attention from their owners.
A short-nosed dog’s tongue may go purple when they experience breathing issues from overheating, and brain-damage is possible if their temperature rises above 42°C.
Pets should not be left unattended in cars on hot days, as a vehicle’s interior temperature can quickly rise to be much higher than the external temperature.
On extreme heat days, pet owners should ensure their animals have access to plenty of water and shade.
“Some people have them inside, in the air conditioning. These days, some people have shell pools, where dogs can cool themselves off in the shade,” Dr Wheatley said.
Warning signs of overheating in dogs include lethargy, excessive panting and laboured breathing.
If an owner suspects overheating, Dr Wheatley said it was important they cooled their pet down gradually, such as by wetting them in front of a fan.
“You don’t want to stick them in an ice bath or anything like that,” he said.
“If you think you’re in real trouble, and you need to see a vet, you’ve just got to ring and come in. We’re used to dealing with stuff like that, and we can do it the right way.”
Burning footpaths, sudden thunderstorms, bushfire evacuations, snakes and ticks are other common problems to be aware of in summer, Dr Oke said.
“It’s crucial everyone in charge of an animal during hot weather understands their responsibilities and makes sure their pet is safe this summer,” she said.
Further advice on protecting pets from heat can be found on RSPCA Victoria’s website at rspcavic.org/hot-days-cool-pets
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