[Nicky91]

There are two tropical days coming up, and I'm sure they won't be the last. The heat has consequences for humans and (domestic) animals, says Hendrik-Jan Kranenburg (41), director of the Evidensia animal hospital in Nieuwegein. Also indirectly. "We get satay sticks from dogs more often these days."

Since two years Kranenburg is not only orthopaedic, but also director of the new Evidensia branch. Employs 120 people and seven days a week, every hour of the day admissions, referrals and emergencies.

Different on hot days
,,Then it is certainly busier with us. Not only because of the warm weather, but also because more people go out. Then there are more bite incidents, more accidents happen and cats also investigate outside their own garden. But the heat also has a direct effect. For example, there are dog breeds with a short snout, such as a pug or a bulldog, who can hardly take a walk without overheating. This also applies to old and sick dogs.''



Nice swimming
"It is always nice to cool down, but it is important that the dogs are vaccinated. For example, against Weil's disease spread by mice and rats. After hot days we see more dogs that are seriously ill with that. And be careful with small, stagnant waters. Blue algae and botulism can also cause problems for a dog."

,,Warm days and weekends are a challenge for our team. Often not only the animals are heated, but also their owners, whether or not because of the alcohol. That can cause aggression. The animal hospital is also a reflection of society. And it is noticeable that many people only recently have a dog. I see in my doctor's office the necessary badly behaved dogs and owners who have no idea what to do."


''Hendrik-Jan Kranenburg''

Watch out, satay
"Warm weather means eating outside. Dogs also find the meat of the barbecue very interesting. If they run into satay, it's life-threatening. Regularly we need to perform keyhole surgery to remove a prick from the esophagus or stomach. Another phenomenon is that older, often overweight dogs suffer from their larynx. The closure to the lungs does not function properly, which can lead to food or drink, resulting in shortness of breath or even pneumonia. A grating bark is the hallmark."

Smear that animal
"I haven't seen it many times myself, but some animals can burn just like humans. That doesn't apply to my labradors, but dogs with white fur and skin without pigment or dogs that lie on their backs in the sun often and for a long time are the most sensitive. They need to be smeared before they go out with the boss on a sunny day. Cats with less pigment are also there, but they often take care of themselves."

Avoid the asphalt
"The cushions under the paws of dogs can burn if they have to walk on asphalt that gets hot in the sun. For those who are in doubt, put your hand on it for a few minutes. In hot weather, it is wise to look for cooler places and walk in the forest instead of in the city."

"There is an increasing focus on the danger of dogs in hot cars. There, the temperature can rise very quickly to well above 40 degrees. Then you can't leave a dog in the car, even if you go to a store for a while. Windows must be smashed regularly because it does happen, after which the owner is rightly hurled on the receipt.
I remember a story of a group of students who, on holiday in Scandinavia, left their two dogs in the van with drinking water at night. Nothing could have happened. But in the morning they were a little late and by then the dogs were already dead. How can you be so stupid? And incidents like this happen every year."

"There are people who still like to run on hot days. But they perspire and have few clothes on. A dog can't sweat and usually still walks in his winter coat. So then you should not go cycling with the dog next to you. Do that early in the morning or late at night. Better yet: wait for cooler days."

Stop wagging
"Dogs can hardly sweat and have to get rid of the heat mainly through their mouth and tongue. So if they're sucking really hard, they're doing that. That takes muscle strength and at some point that is no longer enough. If in doubt, you can tell by the mucous membrane around the eyes. If that changes from pink to red, it's not going well. Stopping wagging can also be a sign, and if the dog starts vomiting, it's bad. In shock or even unconsciousness is the next step."

"It is wise to call the veterinarian well before then. Or better yet: to take action yourself. Remove your animal from the sun, put it in front of the open refrigerator or freezer and get drinking water. Please note: no ice water, but just tap water. Take a bath? Fine, as long as that's not in the sun, because then a cool place in the house is better."

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Translation done by me, via Bing Google Translate

[Ammi]

…nice and informative thread for this hot weather, Nicky …….

[bitontheslide]

[Ammi]

[Ammi]