Pet answers: hot weather issues
Hot weather is here – well, almost! – and brings with it a whole host of issues for pet owners...
With the weather getting hot I am worried about walking my dog on the pavement. When is it ok and what can I do to help?
You are totally right to be worried about the pavement during hot weather. Any Formula 1 fans will be well aware that the track temperature is a lot higher than the air temperature, and more so in the sun. This is the same for our pavements and any dark solid surface or metal grilles. All can get scorching hot even if the air temperature is not oppressive. A good test is to lay the back of your hand on the pavement for five seconds. If you can easily do this then it should be safe to walk your dog on it, if it is too hot for you it will also burn the pads of your dog. Alternatively, exercise on grass or if this is not possible you can get dog boots that will allow for longer contact with the hotter surfaces (we used similar boots for the Army dogs in Iraq and Afghanistan).
I am sorry if this seems a silly question but can you give bones from a BBQ to your dog?
For safety the answer would always be no for any cooked bones. There are some bones that can be safer than others but many cooked bones can splinter when chewed and then cause major issues in the stomach and intestines, to the point of requiring surgery to remove them. Rich, fatty cooked meat can also trigger some dangerous conditions like pancreatitis in sensitive dogs as well as causing diarrhoea in many others who are not used to this food.
What is flystrike? My friend has told me to look out for this with my rabbit.
Flystrike is when flies lay eggs on an animal. These eggs hatch into maggots that can then eat into the animal’s body tissues. This can happen in hours and can very quickly become fatal. Rabbits are at risk if they have a dirty environment or are not very clean themselves (some rabbits will have loose faeces and some just don’t clean themselves very well) or have wounds as this attracts the flies. During the summer rabbits should have their bottoms checked twice daily but if they become restless and show discomfort or become quiet and listless check them immediately. Preventative treatments are available from your vet that can last for up to 10 weeks at a time and hutches should be cleaned regularly. If you do find your rabbit has maggots do not try to clean it yourself – call your vet immediately as an emergency.
Do you have a pet or animal health question? Send it to us at: . Cees will endeavour to answer all questions, whether published or not!
Cees Bennett BVetMed MRCVS Veterinary surgeon and Joint Venture Partner at: Peterborough Vets4Pets 231-233 St Paul’s Road Peterborough PE1 3RL Tel: 01733 890777 & Bretton Vets4Pets Inside Pets at Home Unit 2 The Bretton Centre Peterborough PE3 8DN Tel: 01733 261094
