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| Petlopedia |
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dogs
: cats : birds
: fish : horses
: reptiles : exotics |
> Health
& Nutrition
Keeping
Exotic Pets Cool
By About.com
Animals are
subjected to the same sorts of heat stresses as people, and we
need to be aware of their needs and pay attention to their
environment. What specific environmental stresses do we need
to be concerned with, and what are the special needs of some of
our exotic pets?
For all animals (including us!) there are two major concerns with
the summer heat: dehydration and heat stress/stroke.
Always make sure your pet has adequate access to water, and make
sure that it is clean and fresh. With animals that are
watered via a bottle, make sure the mechanism is functioning
properly so that your pet can acess the water that is there.
If watered via a bowl, make sure the bowl is not tipped or the
water has not been soiled. My own hedgehog likes to drag her
blanket into her water dish every so often, so I have to check and
make sure she has access to water even though I give her fresh
water daily. As a rule, the smaller the animal, the
more suceptible it is to dehydration, so be careful.
Changing the water two or three times a day will help keep it
fresh and palatable for your pet.
Of course, reptiles and amphibians present their own unique
problems when it comes to heat, water and humidity. Many
species have strict preferences or requirements for ambient
temperature and humidity, and it can be a challenge to maintain
these conditions as the outside conditions reach extremes.
Because these pets are cold-blooded (meaning they are unable to
regulate their internal temperatures - they change with
their environment) it is imprtant year round to make sure that
they are kept at appopriate temperatures and humidity levels.
It is impossible to talk about all the different species and their
requirements, but keep in mind that as your environment changes,
you may need to make some husbandry changes to maintain the proper
enviroment for your pet. If your reptile or amphibians
enclosure is kept near a window, make sure that the enclosure does
not get too much direct sunlight or overheating may become a
problem.
For the warm-blooded pet, it is still important to pay attention
to how hard the animal will have to work to maintain a proper body
temperature. Make sure that any enclosures do not recieve
direct sunlight through a window, or overheating is likely to be a
problem. Ensure that the temperature or humidity in their
enclosure doesn't get too high - if possible use a thermometer to
monitor the temperature in their cages (I use an inexpensive
stick-on thermometer strip from a pet store to check what is
happening in my hedgehog's aquarium). If your pet stays in
an aquarium or other enclsoure without open sides this important
due to a possible lack of ventilation.
If your pet spends a significant amount of time outdoors, make
sure shade is ALWAYS available - pay attention as the sun moves
across the sky to make sure that the shade doesn't disappear.
Also make sure that their water source is available outside.
Some pets, for example pot bellied pigs, enjoy having a pool of
water in which to cool off. (Even some of the smaller pets
may enjoy having a dish of water to splash in in the summer time.)
Just don't leave pets unattended if there is deep water around!
Also, it is probably best to avoid having your pets outdoors
during the heat of the day (e.g. between 10 am and 2 pm when the
sun is at it's highest). If your pet is active outdoors,
this is expecially important, as it will be more difficult for a
pet to cool down if it is exercising and producing its own added
body heat.
Sunburn can also plague our pets, especially pot bellied pigs -
also watch out for sunburn. In the furred species this is
not a big problem, but the sparse hairs on a pig won't do much to
stop sunburn. It is possible to use sunblock to prevent
sunburn; also provide ample shade for your pig. For other
species, areas such as the nose, ear tips or any other sparsely
haired areas can also be susceptible. Keeping pets out of
the sun is probably the most prudent preventative measure against
sunburn.
Perhaps the biggest problem for pets (especially dogs) is being
left enclosed in cars in the heat. If you do take your pet
in the car, be it to the vet, a show, a trip, or just for an
outing, do not leave your pet unattended in the car for any length
of time.
Signs of heat stroke include heavy panting, shakiness or
staggering, disorientation or loss of consciousness. If you
pet exhibits any of these signs, remove it from the heat, use
water to try and cool it down (start with the extremities), and
get to your veterinarian.
Most of the precautions we should take for our pets in the summer
are simply common sense. It is just necessary to remember
that many of the pets we keep do not have cooling systems as
efficient as ours, so we must take the extra steps to make sure
they do not suffer from the heat!
Just a note: remember if you have air conditioning and like
to keep your home very cool in the summer, please be sure that
your pets are warm enough! Keep them out of any drafts
produced by the air conditioning and monitor the temperature of
their enclosure to be sure they aren't getting a little too cool!
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