Hot Weather Tips
Wow, Summer has hit Hobart!
With this sudden increase in hot weather- we need to be careful of our pets and livestock to ensure their comfort and safety!
Dogs
With extreme temperatures it’s important we adapt our normal routine to minimise any additional stress the heat may play on our dogs. Dogs that are more susceptible to heat issues are those brachycephalic breeds, or “flat faced” breeds such as French Bulldogs, Pugs and Australian Bulldogs. These breeds need extra care during the hot weather as their reduced respiratory system means they will struggle regulating their body temperatures.
To manage our canine friends the main tips are:
Avoid exercise in the main heat of the day!
Make sure the pavement isn’t excessively hot to touch before you take them out
Minimise the amount of exercise, only do what’s necessary. No need for the extra few km’s!
Avoid traveling in cars, and never leave them in a car!
Supervised water play can help cooling
Provide adequate shade and fresh water
Horses
Horses handle the heat well, however there is some correlation between high head events and colic, which we all want to avoid! With horses the main issue is both high heat and high humidity. Competitions are monitored on something called the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature, with >33 WBGT mean that riding should be forgotten! Some tips for managing horses in the heat include:
Exercise if required at an appropriate time of day
Provide adequate fresh cool water
Add salt or electrolytes to their feed
Hose and scrape extra water off after exercise
Utalise fans if horses are stables
Move paddocks to ensure best access to shade
Avoid unnecessary transportation
Livestock
Our livestock are pretty clever creatures and would have all the shady spots picked out in their paddock! It’s important we stick to these guidelines:
No unnecessary husbandry management on hot days
No sedation of rams for shearing as it can increase mortality
Ensure good supply of clean fresh water. Remember a cow can drink between 14-75L/day and sheep 8-10L/day depending on the conditions!!
Move paddocks to the one with most shade
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns!