RSPCA Great Southern inspector: Summer lovin’ or how to enjoy the warmer months with your pets

With temperatures on the rise, the RSPCA is urging pet owners to include their furry friends in plans to stay cool and enjoy some summer fun.

Extreme heat poses lots of dangers for our furry and feathered family members and, in certain circumstances, can be fatal.

Dehydration, heatstroke, sunburn, and blistered paws are all-to-common problems in summer but there are many ways to avoid them.

The easiest thing to do is bring pets inside where it’s cooler, whether that’s in the air-conditioning, in front of a fan, or even on the cool laundry tiles.

Shade is an absolute must for all pets from birds to rabbits, dogs, cats and horses. Make sure your pets have plenty of it.

Just as we get thirstier in the heat, so do our pets. From the littlest to the biggest, make sure all your pets have access to plenty of cool, fresh water at all times.

It’s best to provide two water sources in case one gets knocked over.

Large blocks of ice made of stock or with treats frozen in them are fantastic for dogs while guinea pigs, rats and rabbits love a frozen water bottle to lie on.

Horses, chooks and other birds love a sprinkler they can cool down under while many dogs enjoy a kiddie pool to splash in.

Walk dogs in the cool of the early morning or late evening and use the five-second rule to avoid burned paws.

If you can’t hold your hand on the road, footpath, or beach sand for five seconds, then it’s too hot to walk your dog.

Dogs and hot cars are another bad mix. It’s best to leave your dog at home with heaps of shade but if you must take them out, never leave them alone in the car on a hot day – even for just a couple of minutes.

Dogs die in hot cars in as little as six minutes and permanent organ damage can begin even sooner than that.

Georgina Brown is the Great Southern inspector at RSPCA WA.