Stuttgart. Drinking is vital: A wide range of fluid is not only important for animals on hot days, some animal roommates generally drink too little. With a heat wave, however, the water requirement can multiply. As long -term consequences of the lack of water consumption, painful kidney disorders and bladder stones can develop mainly in cats and dogs. In the worst case, the result is a heat stroke or circulatory collapse. PETA specialist officer Björn Thun has put together helpful tips to encourage dogs, cats and Co. to drink.
“Germany expects temperatures of up to 39 degrees these days, animals absorb too little fluid, heat can become life-threatening for them,” says Björn Thun “If you are well informed, you can help two and four-legged friends without suffering.”
Tips at a glance
Offer several drinking bowls in different places and thus make the water available faster and better: This has two advantages – the four -legged friend never has to go far, on the other hand, dogs and especially cats sometimes have special techniques. Cats don't want to drink where they eat or go to the toilet. For example, some animals like increased locations, such as the bowl on the windowsill than on the kitchen floor.
Flowing water is often preferred: Some cats prefer to drink directly from the tap. A good solution offers a drinking well, in which a pump always lets the water circulate via a small cascade. This elegant alternative is surprisingly popular. Dogs that find an ongoing tap or hose exciting can also be encouraged to drink in a playful way.
Creative bowl offer: Some animals are the classic bowl too boring. Many cats prefer watering can, some dogs prefer to drink from buckets. Animal keepers can also become creative and try all conceivable water containers. These should then only be reserved for the four -legged friend and are not used elsewhere. The material is often crucial. Plastic or metal bowls are spurned worldwide; Glass and ceramics taste neutral and may also be more environmentally friendly. Anyone who at times observes the drinking habits of the animal roommate quickly finds out when and how the animals prefer to drink water.
The water itself is also a matter of taste: Some animals do not like fresh tap water, but only drink when the liquid has been for a few hours. Pollution should be removed and fresh water should be offered again. Heated water in summer should also be replaced by cool and fresh water again and again – on the one hand for taste and on the other hand for hygienic reasons. Some dogs even love herbal tea.
Cheating allowed: So -called wet feed already contains a lot of water, so that the four -legged friend also has to drink less in order to cover its fluid needs. However, dry food contains just under 10 percent moisture, so additional water must be supplied here. In order to proceed safely, animal -keeping drying food can soak in water and thus ensure a higher daily water absorption.
Also animals that are in the pasture, such as horses, sheep or cows, also have an increased water requirement in summer – large horses drink up to 100 liters a day. The potions should be checked at least once a day so that a constant supply of fresh water is guaranteed. On particularly hot days, it is also welcome to check several times.
Drinking enough is also important for small animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs. Both types tend to urinary tract infections and can quickly overheat in summer. Many animals love it when the water is enriched with vitamin drops. If fresh food is offered, it can also be covered with a water film from washing. Since fresh food is particularly popular, it is eaten quickly and thus also absorbed the water directly. Salz lick stones are not recommended, they promote urinary stone formation.
Birds must also be constantly available fresh and cool drinking water. Beware of drowning! In deep rain barrels or water buckets, an advancement aid should always be available for an emergency. For larger vessels, the water level should not be higher than the leg length of the animals. There are special drinking devices for birds that keep the water freshly freshly reduced by protection against dirt. This can be a covered collection container, which only releases the water in portions in a container available for the animals.
Risk of life: Recognize the first symptoms of a heat stroke
Signs of overheating in the dog are strong panting and apathy, but sometimes nervousness. Very strong panting, tumbling, a dark, bluish tongue or a glassy look and vomiting can suggest that the dog might have suffered a heat and float in acute danger. First aid measures: The overheated animal must be brought into the shade immediately. The dog's body should be cooled with a hand warm or slightly cool water. This should be done slowly and with small amounts of water. Always start at the paws with the gentle cooling, not near the heart, otherwise there is a threat of shock. The urgently needed drinking water must also not be freezing cold. The animal must then be brought to a veterinary practice immediately-even if its condition has apparently improved through the first aid measures. The consequence of a heat stroke can be organ damage, which is why a dog that appears fit again should urgently be examined in a veterinary practice.
If a horse begins to suddenly sweat heavily for no apparent reason, the body tension decreases and starts to stagger the worst cases, it may have suffered a heat stroke. In this case, a veterinary specialist must be called immediately. As first aid measures, horse owners bring the animal to a shady, well-ventilated place and pour the animal over the legs towards the body with slightly cool, never ice-cold water, because here too there is a risk of a life-threatening shock. Wet envelopes can also help to cool the overheated horse body.
If a otherwise healthy rabbit or guinea pig is partially on the side on a hot day and breathes quickly and flat, it should be wrapped in a cool, damp towel and presented veterinary specialists, since it may have suffered a heat and can die a circulatory failure. Since rabbits are particularly sensitive to heat, they should be accommodated in a cool, shady place on warm days, which protects them from the heat.