Summer officially began June 21, and along with the higher temperatures comes an increased risk for pets to catch heat-related sicknesses.
Cats and other animalsjust like humanscan contract heat-related ailments such as heat stroke, dehydration and heat exhaustion.
If you think your pet could be sick with one of the above, check for various symptoms, including:
Panting
Restlessness
Rapid heartbeat
Hyperventilation
Dark red or grayish gums
Lethargy
Increased body temperature (104 degrees or higher)
If your cat exhibits any of these signs and you think it may be suffering from a heat-related illness, cool the cat down as quickly as possible by immersing it in cool water, wrap the cat with wet towels and take the cat to a veterinarian immediately.
If your cat is not suffering from a specific ailment and you want to protect it from coming down with one, there are several means to help your pet beat the heat. Among the ways to keep your cat cool, according to veterinary experts, are:
Keep the cat indoors in a cool interior room.
Rub the cat with a damp towel.
Immerse the cats feet in a tub of cool water.
Make sure the cat has bowls of cool water available. It helps to drop an ice cube in occasionally to cool the water.
Wrap a cold compress under the cats neck to help cool it off.
Try using an eyedropper or syringe to hydrate the cat if it refuses to drink water. Do not shoot the water down its throat, as it can cause choking. Place a drop or two at a time in the corner of its mouth to help hydrate the cat.
Also note that white catsor cats with white ears and facesare particularly susceptible to sunburn. Over time, exposure to the sun can cause a type of cancer most commonly found on the tips of cats ears and noses.
Veterinary experts recommend that white cats be kept out of direct sun as much as possible. However, if they must be in the sun, you can help prevent sunburn by using a veterinarian-recommended sunscreen on their ears and noses.