In the hot April, the heat index has reached dangerous levels in many areas. When humans like us feel hot or even suffer from heatstroke. It is not surprising that animals and pets feel hot too. And heatstroke in pets is not far away.
Animal cooling mechanism
Dr. Kritthi explained that heatstroke is a condition in which the body has excessive internal heat. The body receives heat and cannot dissipate the heat. It depends on internal factors such as physical condition, physiology, as well as weather, temperature, ventilation, and humidity in the air.
The main difference between the cooling mechanisms in animals such as dogs. And cats and humans is that animals use the respiratory system as their main cooling mechanism and some parts have sweat glands on their skin to cool them down. โปรโมชั่นพิเศษจาก UFABET สมัครตอนนี้ รับโบนัสทันที Such as the paw area. However, cooling down through sweat glands is not as good as breathing. Which is different from humans who have both skin sweat glands and breathing as their main mechanisms.
Physical factors for heatstroke
“Generally, we see dogs with short hair and long hair. But hair is not a factor that has a significant effect (on cooling). Short hair may be slightly less prone to heatstroke than long hair, but overall, there is not much difference. Because dogs do not have as many sweat glands,” Dr. Kritthi explained the general understanding of fur length.
However, the key variable in cooling the body is the ‘mouth’. Which affects the respiratory system – “Short-faced dogs, such as bulldogs, chihuahuas or Persian cats. Have a relatively difficult respiratory structure.”
Observe basic animal behavior
When we see dogs or cats near us start to breathe rapidly, pant, or drink more water than usual, these may be the initial symptoms that can be adjusted to improve air circulation or lower the temperature. Outdoor activities should be avoided or avoided during hot weather.
Since animals don’t have as many sweat glands as humans, wiping down their bodies can be of little help. Dr. Kritthi recommends that wiping down areas with sweat glands, such as paw pads or a hairless belly, and using normal-temperature water. They should also be given plenty of water to drink.
For small pets, where symptoms may not be as obvious as in large pets, Dr. Kritthi recommends that initially you should start by observing your own behavior to see if you feel hot or not. Because animals that have more limitations in cooling and can move around more than their owners will find it harder to observe their behavior.