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    keeping pets cool

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    • M
      muffman last edited by

      It's going to be a stinker on Sunday. If you have a pet, how do you keep them cool in hot weather?

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      • Jess_Em_Aus
        Jess_Em_Aus last edited by

        My cat loves to sleep under the aircon 🐈

        Emerge Australia Biobank Coordinator. Healthy ally.
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        • R
          Rochelle last edited by

          we picked up one of those kiddie shell pools off the side of the road (see them all the time). puppy loves splashing in it, so much that old dog seems much more interested than he ever was before!

          ? C 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 3
          • A
            Anne_Em_Aus last edited by

            We have three sizes of cool mat from - I think - PetBarn. I tried to sneak the large one into bed one time when it was super warm on the basis that the dog still had the medium size. My partner made me give it back. (Seriously though - they're great)!

            Emerge Australia CEO since July 2021

            Simone_Em_Aus 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
            • R
              Rusty last edited by

              I have a pet rabbit that ordinarily lives outside in a shaded cage. If its going to be 35+ I put it in a travel cage in the laundry which is the coolest part of the house. If I have to be out for most of the day I put an esky freeze brick wrapped in a wet towel above the cage. The cold air will sink.

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              • ?
                A Former User @Rochelle last edited by

                @Rochelle Zoe loves the pool too. And putting her feet in her water bowl 😊

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                • Simone_Em_Aus
                  Simone_Em_Aus Community Moderator @Anne_Em_Aus last edited by

                  @Heidi_Em_Aus Those gel cooling mats are a serious part of my heat management strategy! In the summer months, I put one in the fridge for a few hours and lie on it (I have two, so I can rotate them and always have one in the fridge). They’ve been amazing!

                  Emerge Australia Research Director. Mostly bedbound with ME/CFS since 2014. She/her

                  Sign up to Emerge Australia Research Digest here: http://eepurl.com/ds9DET

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                  • C
                    Chris @Rochelle last edited by

                    @Rochelle
                    Ours too

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                    • D
                      Dio_Raven last edited by Dio_Raven

                      Hi, vet nurse here, there have been some great advice already.

                      • cover bird aviaries in wet towels and provide fresh branches and hose with water
                      • no exercise even if they want to...border collies I'm talking to you
                      • Moving pets indoors is vital, this includes rabbits and g'pigs. I never treated a heatstroke from a pet in a house. Most heat stroke I do see is actually on days between 25 and 30 because most ppl bring pets in doors above 30. If they are still panting indoors you can try the things below.
                      • as others mentioned, cool mats are great (they work for humans too if your M.E causes thermoregulation issues)
                      • ice block treats made with kibble in flavoured water (i use ketchup or vegemite)
                      • wet towels to lay on but DO NOT place them over your pet, it traps heat in.
                      • sitting in shallow pools
                      • dampen the coat around the belly, legs and neck

                      Good ventilation is important, most animals don't sweat, that's why they pant. If you have a bulldog or pug etc with a short face most of them really struggle on a good day let alone on a hot one. Talk to your vet about corrective airway surgery, it saves lives and they are much more relaxed from it.

                      If you think your pet has overheated get it to a vet, don't think just because you cool it down it will be ok.

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
                      • KC Snowbunny
                        KC Snowbunny last edited by

                        Some fantastic tips. I wish I’d seen this about a month ago. Roughly how much do the cooling mats cost?

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                        • E
                          EmergeAustralia @KC Snowbunny last edited by

                          @KC-Snowbunny we think we paid about $45 for the medium which is suitable for a smol, fat, slightly hostile schnauzer 🐕

                          The person 'behind the username' might be one of a number of Emerge Australia staff members who have oversight on the forum. All other staff members can be spotted because their username will be in the format Name_Em_Aus.

                          KC Snowbunny 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                          • KC Snowbunny
                            KC Snowbunny @EmergeAustralia last edited by

                            Thank you @EmergeAustralia 👍

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                            • gretch
                              gretch Community Moderator last edited by

                              How did I go all these years without learning about cooling mats for me or the fur babies. Thanks everyone.

                              She/her
                              Posts written on Kabi Kabi Country

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                              • D
                                Dio_Raven last edited by

                                I got my cool mat at aldi when they had them, they are full of gel, I find they don't even need to be put in the fridge. if it gets warm i just move it to another spot on the floor and flip it over. Looks like bunnings have them for between $10-15, https://www.bunnings.com.au/pillar-products-900-x-600mm-pet-cooling-mat_p3440290

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                                • D
                                  donnamarie last edited by

                                  The sprinkler and or a hose with a squirty gun on it and make sure that the water pots are kept full. The chooks and the budgies get a good cooling down with water. We also built the cages under trees for added shade in summer and wind protection in winter.

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
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