The soaring temperatures have left Gurgaon residents worried about their pets.
Most dog owners are aware of the effects of the rising temperature on their pets — stress, dehydration and even life-threatening problems such as brain damage. Many have been consulting veterinary doctors to take guidance for their pets' well-being.
Ashok Yadav, a resident of Rosewood City in Sector 49, owns a two-and-a-half-year-old St Bernard named Bosco. "St Bernards are originally from the western Alps in France, Switzerland and Italy," explained Yadav. "It is especially tough for such breeds to bear the heat. I make it a point to maintain his room's temperature at 16°C, or the heat is unbearable for him. I make it a point that he is well hydrated at all times. I even add some Glucon D to his water. I take him on a walk either early in the morning or late in the evening."
"Whoopy is 8 years old and does not prefer moving around much," said Akriti Nandy, a resident of South City II, who owns a pug. "I try and make sure he spends most of his time in an air-conditioned room. I also bathe him frequently. And spicy food is off his diet."
"Last year Caesar, my Labrador, got ill around this time of the year," said Jatin Kataria, a resident of Sector 31. "This year, I've got a special bamboo cot made for him. It will help him stay cool. Caesar loves to eat watermelons, which is great, as it is a great fruit to have during summer. I make sure he has loads of watermelon every day."
"Owners need to protect their pets from the heat," said Dr Sushma Kumar, a veterinary physician. "Owners should avoid taking dogs for a walk during the day. And the walks should be short ones. The water intake should be adequate and it should be cold. The pets should be kept in either proper ventilated rooms or ones that have a cooler or an air-conditioner.”
She further suggests to never leave a dog inside a parked car in warm weather, even for short periods of time, even with the windows slightly open. Even on a relatively mild day when it is 28°C, the temperature inside a car can reach a dangerous 32°C in the shade and a deadly 51°C in the sun. Dogs trapped inside a car can succumb to heatstroke within minutes – even if the car isn't parked in direct sunlight.
