How to help your furry darling beat the heat

It’s that time of the year again when sweat becomes your indispensable companion. However, while we know ample ways to beat the heat, but what about our furry pals?
With the temperature soaring high day by day, it is natural for our pets to feel uncomfortable. Here are some ways to help your furry friend cope with the hot weather.
Proper diet and water mandatory
During summer, your pet’s appetite tends to decrease rapidly.Veterinary surgeon Dr Sunita K Patel says, “Make him exercise and feed him during the cooler part of the day. Also, provide your furry darling with ample fresh drinking water.” Adds veterinarian Dr Parul Parpani, “Keep your pet on a liquid diet as much as possible during this time of the year.” Pet consultant Dr KG Umesh rightly says, “High-energy food intake more than helps. Also, continue feeding non-vegetarian food like chicken and fish which contain ample protein. Myths like such foods generate heat in the body should be ignored.” Occasional feeding of ice creams and drinking of cold water is fine, though not too much, as your sweetheart may catch a cold.
Bathing, spraying and sponging
Even though bathing in room temperature water happens once a week, spraying and sponging should happen on a daily basis. “Sponging with plain cool or rose water and spraying daily with shower pumps will do,” feels Parpani.
Keep them in well-ventilated areas
Canine behaviourist and trainer Shirin Merchant states that your pet should be either under air-conditioning or in a well-ventilated area with circulating fans during the day. “The well-ventilated rooms keep away flies and hence prevent maggot wounds,” reasons Dr Patel.
Other things to be done
Veterinarian Dr Percis Ghiara says that it's better to trim dogs with long-haired coats during summer. Adds Merchant, “You don’t get dog friendly sunscreen in India. The sunscreen that you get here, even if it is child friendly, should be run through a vet and then used on your furry baby, otherwise, it will irritate him. Also, swimming is an excellent activity for your pooch. Though some dogs hate swimming, there are the active others who enjoy playing in and dating water. Prevent your pet from drinking puddle or pond water as it will have an adverse effect on him for it contains bacteria and germs. Moreover, stagnated water bodies near factories contain harmful chemicals, and though street dogs may be used to it, your pet should be kept away from such water.”
For more stories, follow us on Twitter and Facebook