Australia Weather News

Do you wonder what your pet gets up to at home when you're not there?

On hot summer days, you might be more worried about their welfare than their antics.

After all, "we really control their whole environment", says Mia Cobb, a canine welfare researcher at the University of Melbourne.

With temperatures on the rise, we asked three experts whetherleaving the air conditioning onfor pets is necessary.

Firstly, how do you tell if your pet is hot?

Pets cope with the hot weather in different ways, says Dr Cobb, and some types of dogs are more likely to have a lower heat tolerance than others.

Brachycephalic — orflat-face breedssuch as pugs, bulldogs and boxers are more likely to struggle "because they can't pant effectively", she says.

When it comes todogs with thick coats(such as Alaskan malamutes, Samoyeds and Akitas), older dogs or those withpre-existing health issues, their risk of overheating is higher, she adds.

Dr Cobb sayspanting heavily,seeking out cooler spotsin the house, beingtired and lethargicorseeming uncomfortablecan all be signs your dog is uncomfortably hot.

Melissa Meehan, the director of veterinary services at RSPCA Victoria, says dogs will pant more if they're overheating and may start to look distressed if that doesn't cool them down.

She says cats tend to be "a little bit cleverer at keeping cool".

However, "panting in a cat is always abnormal, so that would be the first sign that a cat is overheating".

When should you leave the air con on for your pets?

Once it'sover 25 degreesCelsius, Dr Cobb recommends looking out for signs your dog might need access to cooler spaces, and to "have options available for them if it'sover 30 [degrees Celsius]".

If you don't have the option to leave them inside, or if you don't have air con, Dr Cobb says having a range ofcool and shady spotsandfresh wateravailable is necessary.

Having apaddling poolcan also really help, she adds.

But, if you can leave your dog inside with the air conditioning running, that is one way to create a cool option, Dr Cobb says.

Dr Meehan says whether to leave air conditioning on for a pet comes down to the temperature inside the home and she recommends testing out particular spaces.

"See what temperature it is and what the dog looks like when it's in that in that room."

Some apartments and houses trap the heat in summer, while others can stay cool with minimal intervention.

"If you're in doubt, just keep the air conditioning on," Dr Meehan suggests.

She says cats often choose high places in the house to relax and those spots can also be much hotter.

Veterinarian Steven Impey says Australian homes can get extremely hot.

Dr Impey, a lecturer at the University of Melbourne, says leaving the air conditioning on can be a "sensible part" of keeping spaces cool for pets.

"If we're going to be uncomfortable, they're probably going to be uncomfortable and if air conditioning is part of controlling the temperature of a house, then I think it's very reasonable [to leave it on]."

He says you should also factor in what you know about your specific pet.

"If you've got an animal that already has …breathing issuesorheart issuespotentially, it might make sense to keep the environment a little bit cooler."

Agriculture Victoria says pets "can feel heat much more than humans" and recommendsleaving air conditioning or fans on in the houseto help keep pets cool where possible.

What are other ways to keep pets cool inside?

Dr Cobb suggests ensuring dogs haveaccess to cooler spacesin the house, giving dogsfrozen treatsor acold wet towel to lie on.

"I think the key is giving dogs choices and ways that they can regulate to their own comfort," she says.

Dr Meehan saysshutting blindsandusing fanscan also help keep inside spaces comfortable.

Getting double-coated and long-haired dogs' coats prepped for summer bygroomingand stripping back their undercoat will also help, she says.

With some breeds, Dr Meehan says a groomer will ask if you want asummer clip.

"Cats need to be brushedas well to make sure their coats are nice and thinned out for summer."

If a room gets hot, Dr Impey suggests small changes such asclosing curtainsor the door so the heat has less of an impact on the rest of the house.

He also recommends havingmultiple sources of wateraround the house and yard.

Dr Meehan says small animals such asrabbits and guinea pigslike to self-regulate their temperature by lying against abottle of frozen water.

Dr Impey says it's vital to ensure that the cages of smaller pets — such asbirds, guinea pigs and rabbits— are not left in hot spaces.

What if I can't leave my pet inside?

One of the most important factors during hot weather is giving pets the ability to move out of hot areas, whether they're in the house or a backyard, Dr Impey explains.

He saysleaving them confined in spaces,such as in crates in the sun or outside in uncovered yards, could be dangerous.

Also be mindful of sheds, garages or dog houses with metal roofs that can heat up quickly, he warns.

If you're leaving your dog at home on a hot day, ideally you shouldask someone to check in on them, Dr Cobb says.

But that's not always possible.

"If you're not sure if your yard is going to be able to keep them cool enough on a really hot day, maybe consider [alternatives]. 

"Can you take the dog with you to work? Could you leave it with a friend or a family member?"