Climatempo meteorologists warned of a heat wave that is expected to hit the Southeast region throughout this week.
It shouldn’t rain in Vitória, Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro, and most of Minas Gerais. In the Triângulo Mineiro, in the interior and in the metropolitan region of São Paulo, lots of sun and high temperatures, but with rain showers in the afternoon.
This Sunday (17), for example, São Paulo already started the week recording a heat record, with a maximum temperature of 33.9 °C.
The impact of heat goes beyond humans and special care is needed for pets.
A CNN, veterinary surgeon Ben Simpson-Vernon, who accumulates more than 4 million likes and thousands of followers on TikTok with informative content about petsanswered common doubts among owners about how to face the heat.
Are there dogs that are more at risk?
The veterinarian explains that heatstroke occurs gradually. “We know from studies that 98% of dogs that show milder signs will make a complete recovery. But in those dogs that show more serious signs, the chances can be 50%. So the main thing is to detect it early,” said Ben.
“Some of the breeds most at risk may be younger, more energetic breeds, and brachycephalic dog breeds. [aqueles conhecidos por apresentarem uma cabeça de formato ‘achatado’ e o focinho de tamanho ‘encurtado’]like bulldogs and pugs,” he added.
He explained that dogs rely on panting to lose heat and this breathing involves passing air in and out of the nasal passages. These dogs with flatter faces have less surface area on their snouts, which makes heat loss more difficult.
Can I walk and play with my dog for a few hours?
“Don’t feel guilty about not walking your dog. It’s extremely hot outside. One way to test whether the surface is too hot for your pet to walk on is the seven-second rule,” said Ben.
This rule consists of touching the back of your hand to the surface. If you can’t hold your hand comfortably for seven seconds, it’s too hot for your dog to walk.
Can I give my dog ice to cool off?
“There is a lot of misinformation about this. People say it can be harmful, but in reality, if you give ice to your pets, there is very little risk that they will damage their teeth if they are chewing on very large pieces. Just be sensible,” said the veterinarian.
Can cats tolerate heat better than dogs?
Ben says that “cats are descendants of desert or feline species, so they are well adapted to warmer temperatures and less water intake if they are in a drier climate.”
“But that doesn’t mean you don’t need to try to cool your cat if it’s hot. It can be a little tricky, but it’s a good idea to try to encourage them to drink as much as possible. For example, you can try freezing the water left in tuna cans. Some cats will be very happy to slowly lap up this water.”
My dogs love to sunbathe. It’s dangerous?
The veterinarian says that “dogs and cats generally like to sunbathe for the same reason as us. The heat is pleasant and releases feel-good hormones like serotonin.”
“One problem we notice in cats is a type of skin cancer, and we see this most commonly on the tips of the ears and around the nose. This occurs in light-haired cats. You can apply a pet-safe sunscreen to these areas,” said Ben.
“Reptiles are much less susceptible to heatstroke. But make sure the vivarium is not in direct sunlight to avoid overheating. For birds, if it’s too hot, you can spray some water around them. And for fish, be careful that the aquarium does not overheat. It’s good to have a good filtration system and monitor the water temperature,” she concluded.
* Published by Léo Lopes, from CNN
Source: CNN Brasil
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