Our pets can’t sweat all over their bodies like humans can. They rely on panting to get rid of the hot air and only produce a small amount of sweat through their footpads. This makes them extremely susceptible to heat exhaustion in hot and humid conditions.

Heat exhaustion can be particularly dangerous and even fatal so it’s important to be able to recognise the signs and know what to do.

Watch out for:

• Excessive panting
• Exaggerated and noisy panting
• Lethargy
• Drooling
• Weakness or collapse
• Vomiting 

What to do if you suspect heat exhaustion:

• Bring your pet to us immediately (or seek emergency veterinary care)
• On your way here you can cool your pet by applying wet towels to hairless parts of your pet’s body (groins or paws)
• Place your pet in front of the air conditioner or a fan while you are in the car

If you are ever worried about your pet in the heat call us for advice

Summer can be tough on our pets but it can be even more challenging for our wildlife. After a few consecutive days of high temperatures our wildlife can become dehydrated and suffer from heat stress.

Heat stressed animals will:

• Be weak, lethargic, confused or unresponsive
• Come down to ground level searching for water (especially possums and koalas)
• Birds will open their beaks or hold their wings away from their body
• Have burnt feet from walking on hot tarmac or a hot roof (this requires veterinary attention)

Top tips to help our native furry friends:

• Place shallow containers of water around your garden at varying heights (put a stick or rock in them so if animals fall in they can get back out again)
• Keep cats and dogs inside and supervised at all times to prevent them preying on weakened and vulnerable wildlife
• Become familiar with the information included on local wildlife websites such as Wildlife Victoria or WIRES

If you find an animal suffering from heat stress call us as soon as possible  - we will advise you on what you should do next.

Flies are proving to be a real problem this summer. Populations are at an all time high and these annoying insects can really bother you and your pet. Some fly species will actually bite around your pet’s ears and nose causing painful and infected sores.

Here are some things you can do at home to help your pet:

1. Ask us about the very effective topical treatments available to help repel flies and prevent fly bites

2. Clean up your backyard (dog faeces, rubbish) to prevent flies being attracted to the smells

3. Don’t leave pet food or dog bones out - they will attract flies 

4. Make sure your pet has a place to escape the flies such as a kennel or a cool room

5. Remove any dried blood from fly bites as the blood will simply attract more flies.

Phone us for more information on protecting your pet from all pesky parasites this summer. We are the best people to give you advice on the most effective products available for your pet.