Brussels, (Brussels Morning)- The hot summer presents an extra challenge for animals. They have relatively fewer sweat glands to lose the heat and often a thick coat on top of that. Animal shelter Veeweyde is well prepared and also gives some tips for your animal in this heat.
Veeweyde in Anderlecht has taken precautions against the heat wave. “In July we even closed the doors for three days because of the extreme heat,” says communications manager Ludivine Nolf van Veeweyde, to a BRUZZ reporter. “For now, we have the situation under control.”
In the courtyard, dogs can cool off in the swimming pools. The walls and ground are also sprayed with garden hoses. The cats and rabbits then get ventilators again. “We also try to create a lot of shade with banners and umbrellas,” says Ludivine.
The real must-haves for the animals, however, are the cooling mats and the Kongo toys, in which you can put frozen sweets. For this, Ludivine makes a warm appeal for donation: “They really love this, but we could still use it.”
Occupation of the shelter
Last month , Veeweyde announced that the shelter was overcrowded with low adoptions and many abandoned animals. “Now the situation has stabilised.” However, there are still a high number of cats: there are currently 37 in the shelter. Still, the number of adoptions seems to be rising well. 44 cats have been adopted since July, 19 of them this month. “August seems to be a good start,” says Ludivine.
Puppies were also adopted this month: seven Malinois. “We had to be strict with the selection of the new owners, because this species requires a lot of attention.” The selection was made in terms of experience, knowledge, space available and lifestyle. There was a lot of interest in the dogs, because the animal shelter received no fewer than 50 completed files.
Tips from Veeweyde in extreme heat
- Untangle your animal’s fur, the more you brush, the more your animal will be able to breathe. This applies to dogs, rabbits and cats with a lot of hair.
- Tolerating the heat depends on breed: a French bulldog or a Pekingese, for example, has more difficulty than dogs with long snouts that breathe better. Inform yourself at the vet.
- On hot days, let your dog out, especially early in the morning or late at night, with a bottle of water in hand. Be aware that asphalt ground or boulders can burn dogs’ pads. You can rub the paws with aloe vera or petroleum jelly to hydrate them. If the tar would stick to the pads or hair, cut the hairs on the affected area and soak it with cream, vegetable oil or soap before washing.
- Put the birdcages in the shade, give them fresh water and a small pool for them to play in.
- Rabbits regulate heat through their ears, remember to spray cold water from time to time to cool them down. You can also moisten them with a washcloth. Also increase the ratio of vegetables and change the water daily. You can also put a bottle of cold water in the coop for them to lean against.
- In general, provide fresh water and plenty of cold surfaces on a regular basis. Check your dog’s or cat’s paws regularly and sometimes give them a paw bath.
