It is a received idea that comes back every summer, and unfortunately, it jeopardizes many animals when it is very hot.
During hot weather periods, pet owners often redouble attention to preserve the comfort and health of their four -legged companions. Renewed water bowls renewed several times a day, quirky walks during the coolest hours, installation of shadow areas or even refreshing carpets inside: so many gestures that become almost automatic in summer. Some go so far as to use foggers or to leave the air conditioning on in their absence. These precautions always start from a good intention, faced with animals often less able to regulate their temperature than humans.
But in the midst of these common sense reflexes, a received idea systematically comes back in sunny days: mowing a dog would better protect it from heat. Some owners, seeing their animal suffer when temperatures increase, naturally conclude that by having fewer hairs, it would have much less hot. This logic is actually based on confusion with our own way of enduring high temperatures. In summer, we wear lighter clothes so as not to be too hot – so some imagine that “falling the coat” of the dog would have the same effect. In reality, this belief is based on a biological misinterpretation which can harm the animal.
Indeed, according to the veterinarian Thierry Bedossa, president of the Ava refuge and ambassador Rover, the Pet Sitting platform, you should not mow your animal in summer. “Contrary to popular belief, the hair protects against the sun. The mow makes it more vulnerable to heat”he underlines. Conversely, the right reflex is to brush regularly “To ventilate the coat” While eliminating dead hairs, dust and accumulated dirt.
Likewise, to limit hot strokes, it is better to avoid ice water: fresh water, available continuously, is largely enough. And on a daily basis, a more breathable interior makes all the difference: “Close shutters and curtains, place wet cloths in front of a fan” Or installing a small swimming pool for legs, recommends the veterinarian.
