With a forecast high temperature of 37C today, RSPCA is urging pet owners to be vigilant in protecting their animals from heat stress. 

Dogs are especially susceptible to heat-related illness because unlike humans, they can only cool  themselves by panting, and sweating through their paws and nose. 

RSPCA recommends dog owners plan ahead to keep their pets happy and healthy over summer, and to  learn the early indicators of heat stress. These include: 

∙ panting heavily 

∙ drinking more than usual, 

∙ drooling 

∙ becoming lethargic 

If dog owners are unaware of these signs and fail to take action to cool their dogs, heat-stress can  quickly evolve into heat stroke, a potentially fatal condition that can cause vomiting, seizures and loss  of consciousness. Heatstroke is an emergency requiring immediate veterinary treatment. 

While any dog can suffer from heat stress or heat stroke, some dogs are at greater risk, including those  with short faces such as pugs and bulldogs, older and overweight dogs, those with heart disease and  those with thick coats. 

RSPCA recommends some simple things dog owners can do to protect their dogs this summer: 

∙ Never leave your dog in a car. Temperatures can rise quickly, even in the shade with windows  down. Dogs can die in as little as six minutes in a hot car. 

∙ On hot days, walk your dog very early in the morning or late in the evening when it is cool ∙ Don’t walk on hot surfaces such as sand or concrete. If you can’t hold the back of your hand to  the surface for more than a few seconds, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws. 

∙ Always make sure your dog has access to clean, fresh water in multiple untippable containers and  a shaded area with good ventilation or an air-conditioned indoor space 

∙ Give your dog an ice block or frozen treat 

Staff and volunteers at RSPCA’s Lonsdale shelter often make their own frozen ice treats for the dogs  to keep them cool in summer. But this summer, they’re getting a little help from local company,  Bobbies Petcare. The company has donated more than 1,000 serves of ice treats and chicken broth to  the Lonsdale shelter to keep RSPCA SA’s dogs cool this summer. 

The unique treats are made right here in SA with no artificial colours or preservatives and have  been on sale for the past few months at RSPCA PetVille and RSPCA’s Op Shops throughout Adelaide. 

Bobbies Petcare Founder, Jenny Kelly, says the donation is a natural extension of the partnership and  hopes that dog owners embrace the RSPCA’s important and timely message around heat-safety.

More information about keeping dogs safe in heat can be found here: https://justsixminutes.com.au/