Animals are more sensitive to temperature variations than humans. That's why it's essential to take a few steps to ensure they don't suffer in the heat. Here are a few tips to help your dogs and cats cope with rising temperatures. 

Keep your pets indoors

On hot days, it's best to keep your pets indoors, in a cool place. So limit outings to what's strictly necessary. If you must go for a walk, choose the early hours of the morning when the air is still cool and the late hours when the atmosphere is beginning to cool.

Under no circumstances should you leave your pet alone in direct sunlight or in your car, even with the windows ajar! Temperatures in cars can quickly rise to 60 degrees! And it's hard to survive without water.

Don't walk your dog on pavements

When the thermometer spikes, asphalt and tarmac can heat up to 80 degrees. Such temperatures can burn your pet's paws and damage them permanently. So opt for large expanses of grass and dirt paths to protect your pooch's paw pads. You should also choose shady paths, which will heat up less than others.

To check whether the pavement represents a danger, place the palm of your hand on the ground. If you can't leave it there for more than 5 seconds, don't walk your pet there. For your information, when it's 25 degrees outside, the temperature of the asphalt already rises to 52°C, enough to destroy the skin in just 60 seconds!

For people living in cities, where tarmac is predominant, protective footwear is essential. You'll find boots and waxes in most pet shops, so don't hesitate to go there as soon as possible.  

Fill the water bowl frequently

On hot days, nothing is more refreshing than cool water. The same goes for your pet. Remember to refill his bowl every two hours and make sure he drinks enough. Avoid ice-cold water, though, as it can cause diarrhoea.

Refresh your pet

If possible, take your pet to be groomed and trim as much hair as possible. This will help your pet withstand the heat better.  

Cats and dogs don't perspire much, so it's important to help them regulate their body temperature. So don't hesitate to offer your companion a quick shower. Be careful, the water should be lukewarm and cold, not icy, as this could cause thermal shock. For cats, use a damp flannel and stroke them with it.

There are also cooling mats. These products are made from an active cooling gel that absorbs heat and evaporates it away! They'll keep your pet cool for several hours.

Choose moist food

Kibbles are dry foods that risk dehydrating your pet. So prefer to feed him pâté on very hot days. Pâté contains 80% water! And if that still doesn't appeal to your little friend, prepare special ice creams by putting a treat in the middle of an ice cube. He'll be tempted to lick it off and cool off at the same time!