How to protect animals during heatwaves? Pets, livestock and wildlife

High temperatures are hard not only on people. With 40°C heat expected, it is worth thinking about the well-being of our smaller companions, for whom overheating and dehydration can be fatal. Check how to protect animals during hot summer days.

Pets need shade and water

Both cats and dogs struggle with high temperatures, so their exposure to the daytime heat should be kept to a minimum. Early mornings and evenings are the best times for walks, while at home or in the yard they should have access to a shaded area with a regularly refilled bowl of water. In overheated apartments, special cooling mats can also be a good solution.

Leaving pets in closed cars is strictly forbidden. The smaller the animal, the faster it overheats, which can result in death. When travelling with dogs or cats, it is worth ensuring access to air conditioning and a portable water dispenser.

As with humans, older and sick animals are the most vulnerable to high temperatures, so their comfort requires special attention. An increased risk also affects brachycephalic dog breeds such as French bulldogs, pugs and Pekingese. A suffering pet can be helped by applying wet compresses and providing water with electrolytes.

How to protect livestock from high temperatures?

Heatwaves are also exhausting for pigs and cattle, whose welfare is not only a matter of human empathy but also of agricultural profitability. The basic preventive measures, similarly to those for pets, include:

• constant access to clean, regularly replaced water;
• protection from the sun through ventilated buildings and shaded pastures.

Any planned activities and procedures should be moved to the cooler part of the day, preferably early morning, when temperatures are usually at their lowest. Unnecessary stress during peak heat increases the risk of adverse health effects. If an animal behaves unusually, refuses to eat, appears lethargic or breathes rapidly, a veterinarian should be consulted as soon as possible.

Wild animals need one thing most: peace and quiet

As renowned naturalist Adam Wajrak writes on his Facebook profile, forest animals instinctively seek relief from the heat in shallow rivers, mud and wetlands during hot days. It is important not to disturb them while they cool off. For this reason, it is best to avoid trips to forests, especially areas where water still remains. Unfortunately, most forest wetlands have already been drained, to the detriment of moose, deer, European bison, and even wolves and bears.

Birds, however, can benefit from our active help when they stop in our gardens looking for refreshment. For their sake, it is worth setting up drinking stations and shallow bird baths, which should be placed in shaded locations and at a safe height. Avoid metal containers, which heat up too quickly, and line deeper vessels with branches to allow birds to climb out safely if they fall into the water, explains Adam Wajrak.

Guidance on protecting bats is provided by the Polish Society for Nature Protection Salamandra. If, during intense heat, a bat is hanging in an exposed location, for example on a building facade, it is likely that the breeding colony’s shelter has become excessively hot and the bats are at risk of dying. In such a situation, a bat specialist should be contacted immediately to determine the appropriate form of assistance.