With hot weather on its way vets are providing some practical tips to keep your pets cool over the summer months.

“Vet clinics are often inundated by calls from concerned pet owners during summer heat waves but there are some simple tips that can help to prevent or minimise problems,” said Dr David Neck from the Australian Veterinary Association.

“It’s important to remember that dogs and cats can’t sweat to cool down like we do. They need to pant in order to regulate their temperature, and dogs and cats with long hair can be more susceptible to the effects of the heat,” he said.

Ten top tips for dogs and cats in the Queensland climate:

▪ Make sure there is cool, fresh water available at all times. Leave this in a shady area.
 On really hot days it might be worth leaving multiple bowls of cool water in the shade that can’t be tipped over.

▪ Keep an eye on older pets as they will be more susceptible to the heat particularly if they have problems with their breathing.

▪ Dogs love to sit in the sun, but prolonged sun exposure can quickly lead to heat exhaustion and can cause skin cancers so it’s important to provide them with a shaded area.

▪ One way to provide relief from the heat is to fill the kids’ paddling pool with a couple of inches of water and leave this in a shady spot for your dog to sit in.

▪ Tossing a few ice cubes in your dog or cat’s water bowl can help to keep their temperature down and provide some relief on a hot day.

▪ If you don’t have air conditioning think about leaving a fan on during those really hot days in the height of summer.

▪ Try to exercise your dog in the early morning or the late evening to avoid the hottest part of the day.

▪ Consider putting some treats in the freezer. These can be given to your pet as a pet popsicle on really hot days. They’ll help cool your pet down and give them something to do when you’re out.

▪ If you own a long haired dog, consider giving them a trim to help them cope better with the hotter summer months.

“And it goes without saying that you really must never leave a pet unattended in a car, even when the weather isn’t very hot,” said Dr Neck.

Your local vet can give you further advice about ways to keep you pet cool during the summer months.