Feeling hot, hot, hot!

It's now summer here in the Philippines, and we have to survive the heat somehow! Our heat index can get as high as 50C at times, and we won't see summer out, until early June.

I'm not one to be a fan of summer. When it gets too hot, it's also extremely uncomfortable and it's easy to exhaust possible efforts of cooling down yourself to a point that you can't function efficiently anymore.

For us humans, we can get away with multiple baths in a day, but what about our furry friends? Here are a few things you can try for them

• Refill their water fountains with cold water before you leave the house

• Close the curtains for certain parts of the house where they might hang around for longer, and for those where the sun gets concentrated more from the morning to the mid afternoon.

• Buy gel mats that you can leave around for them to lie on when they get too hot
• Leave some windows cracked open. We are only able to do this for some rooms whose windows are not well-oiled so that they aren't able to push it out.
• Consider leaving AC on with doors open combined with some closed windows. I do this when I see that the heat index for the day can get too hot and I will be out of the house for the greater parts of the day.

• Consider leaving fans with no blades like tower fans or air circulators.
• Keep their food bowls away from being exposed from the sun. This way, the food won't go stale too fast.
• Don't leave appliances plugged in because electricity still flows and can add to the feeling of heat.

While these are short term solutions, consider preparing long term solutions too if your place gets really hot in the day.

• Get your windows covered with a UV film sticker. Find one that can lower heat absorption and transference by up to 2 degrees C.
• Buy a removable UV screen that fits your window.
• Consider getting bulbs that are programmable, so you won't have to leave the light on for the whole day that you're going to be out.

• Get a multi story cage and put a breathable mat instead of a furry cushion.
• Consider setting up an outdoor coop with roofing so that they can enjoy fresh air as needed.

Precautions outside are equally important as well. Don't allow your pets to walk on extremely hot pavement floor. Choose a route that has grass and a shade in the path. Always carry water for them as you go about your walk.

And the most important note of all, please, don't leave them inside vehicles, and never in a location exposed under the sun without shade.

What heatstroke looks like in animals

For animals, heatstroke is almost similar to humans. Here are tell-tale signs that you need to bring your furry companion to the vet at once.

• Panting
• Fast heartbeat (tachycardia)
• Drooling
• Red gums
• Lethargy
• Weakness
• Disorientation
• Vomiting
• Seizures

If you notice these signs, please rush them at the clinic at once so that they will be given proper medical attention.

Keep your fur babies safe this summer ☀️ but don't forget to have fun!