How to keep pets cool during a heat wave
The BC SPCA is out with a reminder not to forget about the impact soaring temperatures can have on pets as a heat warning is in effect for the Lower Mainland.
Vancouver branch manager Jodi Dunlop says the first and most important piece of advice she has is never to leave animals in cars.
"Do not bring your pet shopping with you. It is far too hot. Leaving a dog or a cat–more often than not it's a dog– in your car during the heat wave is unacceptable," she says.
"Dogs can die within 10 minutes being left in a car or suffer irreparable brain damage. Please, just leave your animals at home. They'll be healthy and happy there."
She urges anyone who does see an animal left alone in a vehicle to report it immediately to either the local police department or to the SPCA hotline.
Another tip for dog-owners is to adjust their timing of daily walks. Dunlop says early morning or evening is best because the pavement gets so hot during the day that it can quickly scald their sensitive paw pads.
Certain pets, she explains, have more difficulty cooling themselves than others. Bulldogs, frenchies, Persian cats and other "smush-faced" breeds all might need a little extra help and attention from their humans. This can include purchasing a cooling scarf or making one at home by dampening a towel with cool water.
Dunlop also says although the heat is cause for concern, there are a few fun options for keeping them cool, like setting up an inflatable kiddie pool or running the sprinkler for dogs.
Frozen treats, she says, are something dogs, cats and even smaller pets like rabbits and guinea pigs can enjoy. Mixing some food with water, mashing it up and freezing it in an ice cube tray is Dunlop's recommended recipe.
"Kids love freezies and popsicles, so do animals," Dunlop says.
During last year's deadly heat dome, Dunlop says SPCA branches received a lot of reports about animals in distress. The organization also had to close the branches that don't have air conditioning so staff could focus full time on keeping the creatures in their care comfortable.
"We have to remember they don't sweat like we do, so it is very difficult for them when it is hot. We have to first and foremost think of them, keep them cool."
More tips and information can be found on the BC SPCA website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.
What do weight loss drugs mean for a diet industry built on eating less and exercising more?
Recent injected drugs like Wegovy and its predecessor, the diabetes medication Ozempic, are reshaping the health and fitness industries.
He replaced Mickey Mantle. Now baseball's oldest living major leaguer is turning 100
The oldest living former major leaguer, Art Schallock turns 100 on Thursday and is being celebrated in the Bay Area and beyond as the milestone approaches.
What a urologist wants you to know about male infertility
When opposite sex couples are trying and failing to get pregnant, the attention often focuses on the woman. That’s not always the case.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
It could take years to catch up on child vaccinations in Ontario post-pandemic
Ontario is still playing catch up on routine vaccinations that many children missed during the pandemic and public health officials are warning that it could take years to solve the problem.