How to cool my dog down on hot days?

Help and advice for every animal-lover Ask the vet

How can I keep my dog cool in warm weather?

There are lots of things you can do to help keep your dog cool and content on hot summer days. Our furry friends still need regular walks, even during hotter weather, but avoid going out during the warmest part of the day – early mornings and evenings are preferable. Stick to the shade where possible and make sure your dog has access to fresh water at all times. As much as we enjoy being out in the sunshine, make sure your pup can choose to go indoors. A shallow paddling pool or washing up bowl filled with cool water could also give your dog a chance to cool off their paws.

What’s the best way to keep your dog’s ears clean?

The best way to clean your dog’s ears is to use a pet safe ear cleaner. Gently lift your dog’s ear and insert the nozzle of the ear cleaner, being careful not to push the bottle too far inside. Squeeze a small amount of the ear cleaner inside the ear canal and massage in to loosen any dirt. Your dog will probably want to shake their head after that – let them! This will help bring material from deep inside the ears to the surface. With cotton wool around your finger, gently wipe wax and excess cleaner from the outer part of your dog’s ear, but not the inside as reaching in too far can cause damage.

My rabbit reacts badly when I pick him up, but he has no issue with other people doing so. Why is this?

Compare the way other people handle him to see if you are holding him in the same way. It’s possible your bunny may have had a worrying

experience previously, which may not have seemed significant at the time to you but he’s remembered resulting in a lack of trust. So, start from scratch. Try getting into his enclosure and sitting quietly at his level, encouraging him to come to you with food. Once he’s used to you doing this regularly and knows you’ll sit quietly, he may attempt to venture closer to you, he may even try and stand on your legs, let him investigate. Once he’s confident and trusting of you, he should be happier if you gently lift him onto your lap.

My cat has just been diagnosed with asthma, is there anything I need to do differently now?

Fortunately, most asthmatic cats respond well to medication, but there are several things we can also do in the home to reduce triggers. Cats with asthma have extremely sensitive lungs that react to particles in the air (such as smoke and dust). For this reason, it’s really important to keep the air your cat breathes as pure as possible. You can do this by avoiding home fragrances such as sprays, incense sticks, plug-in diffusers and candles, and by vacuuming regularly – and it’s really important to have a smoke-free household. If your cat spends most of their time indoors, consider an air filter, and use a dust free litter. I’d also recommend feeding your cat wet food, and ensuring you help them maintain a healthy weight, as obesity can make asthma worse.