Please water your pets!

We sometimes hear of dogs being locked in cars, suffering because of the heat, or worse, perishing. It’s something we need reminding about - the aircon might have been on and your car feels comfortably cool, but as soon as you turn the engine off to ‘just pop to the shop’, it could turn your car into an airless furnace.

Often it is difficult to make sure your pet drinks enough in the heat, as they might be fussy about their water source, or will only drink from the toilet – so maybe keep the bathroom door closed! Perhaps you could try an alternative water source to make it more interesting. Some pets like running water, particularly cats, so maybe a water fountain to provide free-flowing water might help - they may take a little time to get used to it, so you will need to be patient.

Dogs sweat through their paw pads

They soon lose body fluids not only by panting but sweating through their paw pads, and dogs on long walks will need plenty of hydration, so it is important to take water with you. Mind their pads too in the hot weather, the ground can become burning hot in the intense sun, so avoid ‘walkies’ during the middle of the day - early mornings are both good for the dog, and for yourself! When the weather is hot, you need to make sure they’re taking plenty of water on board, so if you’re going on a long car journey, it is recommended that you take at least 5 litres of water with you in case of a breakdown. Collapsible water bowls or bowls with water bottles attached are great options for ‘on-the-go’ hydration.

At home, monitor how often you top up the water bowl and change it if it gets warm, especially as there might be bugs in there taking a dip, which puts your pet’s mouth or nose at risk. With more than one dog, I find it difficult to track who is drinking the most, so I add a good amount of water to all their food to make sure everyone gets enough.

Cats

Cats sweat through their paws, too, and their drinking may be hard to monitor. Using unusual water containers, like a plastic cup or mug, can be effective in encouraging cats to drink – they’re attracted to the water tension on top, so make sure you fill it right up. Some enjoy drinking from the bathroom taps, and if it motivates them to drink more, it’s worth encouraging, as running water feels colder than standing water.

Outdoor cats that like to explore their natural environment will need more water than a cat that lazes around indoors, and a trick to try might be to add unsalted fish oils from the can to their water to encourage them to drink more.

Caged Pets

Be mindful of how much water has been used each time you refill. If they’ve exercised, make sure they have plenty of opportunities to drink. For rabbits, it’s a good idea to give both a sipper bottle as well as a heavy water bowl, and rubbing something sweet and rabbit-friendly on the spout of their water bottle - like a small piece of banana - can encourage your rabbit to drink from it. Adding coriander leaves or a small handful of fresh veggies or fresh green grass to their water can help hydrate them, due to their high water content.

How to spot dehydration

Dehydration in your pet can result in them peeing less frequently, which could lead to a build-up of toxic waste in their bodies. It can also cause vomiting and/or diarrhoea, excessive ongoing panting, loss of appetite, lethargy or even collapse.

Perhaps adding extra water bowls in areas that have less animal or human traffic will also make your pet feel more secure about taking time to drink, and if you do that, keep track of cleaning and changing the water in all of them, as bowls containing stale, warm water are a breeding ground for microscopic bacteria.

Marilyn writes regularly for The Portugal News, and has lived in the Algarve for some years. A dog-lover, she has lived in Ireland, UK, Bermuda and the Isle of Man. 

Marilyn Sheridan