Often in summer we have days of humid conditions, harsh storms, and of course very hot days. It is not only important to look after yourself by keeping cool, staying indoors, and drinking plenty of water but it is also important to look after your pets and wildlife too.
Here are some tips on how to keep pets cool during the hotter months:
Dogs
Dogs are not very good at keeping themselves cool so need support and help from their owners. Don't leave dogs in cars or tied up outside in the sun, make sure they are in a cool place with plenty of ventilation and fresh water both in the house and when you take them for a walk. If your dog has long hair, it probably should get a haircut before the summer months and if your dog has light coloured fur you might need to think about applying pet sunscreen on its nose. Also consider providing a wading pool for your dog to sit in when it is feeling hot.
Cats
Cats enjoy the warm weather and are good at keeping themselves cool in summer, but they still need care from their owners. Apply pet sunscreen if they have light coloured fur on the ears and nose as pets can get sunburn and suffer from skin cancers. Allow your cat to choose a nice cool place to lay down and sleep and make sure there is some cold water in a dish ready for them if they are thirsty.
Rabbits and guinea pigs
Make sure you get long haired rabbits and guinea pigs a haircut before summer, this will help them cope with the heat. Make sure their hutches are always in a shady place on a hot day. Always make sure the water is topped up and fresh throughout the day. Using mist sprays on your small pets and including dogs can help them cool down, but don't spray their face as they don't like it.
Horses and cattle
Provide plenty of water and salt lick for your horses and cattle and make sure they have a shady place to rest. Also consider protecting your horse from flies by using a fly fringe, an anti-fly rug or pet insect repellent and pet sunscreen for their noses and ears too.
Chickens
Chickens struggle with heat as well and are not very good at keeping themselves cool, make sure they have a cool shady place for their hen house and make sure you keep the water fresh water in their trays. Allow your chickens to roam around and scratch the garden if possible but don't forget to lock them up again at night, you don't want to invite feral cats and foxes into your backyard.
If you are very concerned about how your pets are reacting in the heat or feel that they might be suffering from heat stress, please contact your local vet.
Wild animals need our help coping with the heat too, please do not forget about them when you are looking after your own pets. Wild animals play an important role in our ecosystem and should be supported on hot days just as much as the pets we love.
Birds
Place bowls of water on windowsills, on balconies, on terraces, birdbaths, in trees and in gardens, provide as many baths as you can in many different locations for birds and mammals. Make sure the bowls are not metal as they will heat up in the sun, it is important that they are different depths and for some it might be useful to put a large rock or branch in the middle to help the animals rest. You want to also have the bowls cleaned and filled with fresh water regularly throughout the day.
Insects, butterflies and bees
Insects, butterflies and especially bees, also need our help in summer. If you can provide a bowl of water near your flowering plants or set a sprinkler going in your backyard it will go a long way to supporting the bugs, insects and bees that live in our ecosystem. Watering flowering plants throughout the day with cold water from the hose and make sure you spray the flowers too will help.
Possums
Possums are nocturnal animals, so if you see them during the day, they may need extra help from you because they are feeling too hot. Provide a bowl of cold water for them with some cut up bits of fruit in it, these will help hydrate the possum and provide them with a delicious snack. Be careful as you don't want to feed wild animals too much and have them be reliant on you for their food source, remember they are wild animals and should be treated with care and respect.
Koalas and kangaroos
If you are lucky enough to live in an area where you can see koalas and kangaroos, it is best not to approach them as you don't want to scare them. But you can help them too by leaving a bowl of cold water out for them and make sure you provide a shady area. If they know your backyard is safe, they may come back and visit often.
Bats, reptiles and amphibians
Never approach a reptile, especially a snake, if they feel threatened, they will attack. Bats, including flying foxes can also carry diseases, so they are best to be avoided. We know that amphibians like frogs love water, make sure there is plenty around on hot days ready for them to live in if they need it. Leave the animals alone and if you see that it is in your backyard for a long time and looking quite distressed then contact a wildlife provider in your community
- WIRES Australian Wildlife Rescue
- Help for Wildlife (HFW)
- The Wildlife Rescuers Inc
- Second Chance Wildlife
- Wildlife Victoria
Backyard Buddies - Wildlife Victoria has a great fact sheet on helping heat stressed wildlife.