Fancy pooches feel the heat

Animals bred in A/C homes are increasingly being brought to BSPCA hospital, even more than their stray counterparts

Animals bred in A/C homes are increasingly being brought to BSPCA hospital, even more than their stray counterparts

These days, woofs and meows being heard at the animal hospital in Parel are from pets from affluent homes.

Only yesterday morning, a labrador with nasal bleeding, a condition described as epitaxis, died at the hospital. Doctors said the rising temperature was to blame for the death.



"The past few days, we have been getting cats and dogs bred in air-conditioned homes and cars and fed heavy non-vegetarian food," said Lt Col Dr J C Khanna, secretary of the Bombay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. "This is why several pets from upmarket homes are being brought here for treatment."

Khanna said that on an average, the hospital gets about 15 to 20 pets, mostly of pedigree class.

Lt Col Dr J C Khannau00a0 advises that animals should not be fed non-vegetarian food in summer as they have difficulty digesting it.

"Earlier, the animals used to be carted to the hospital only after the second week of April.

This year, the summer has set in early and the heat has been taking its toll on the animals since as early as the third week of March.

"Owners usually keep these pedigree pets in air-conditioned rooms and cars.

What they do not realise is that the animal acclimatised to this ambience, when suddenly taken out in the sun, finds it difficult to adjust to the change in temperature," said Khanna.

He said this could lead to vomiting and diarrhoea and could even prove fatal. The animal's dietary habit should also be heeded to, he said.

"Ideally, animals should not be fed non-vegetarian food during summer as it is not easy to digest. Instead, milk products like buttermilk and curd and other such light food should be given," he said.

According to hospital manager Dr Manu Sharma, in the last 20 days the hospital has had nearly 150 cases of dogs and more than 60 of cats besides 80-odd birds brought to the hospital after being affected by the soaring temperatures.

Vet's Advice

Switch off the air-conditioner a little before taking your pet out of your house or car. This will prove helpful as the animal will not move from the air-conditioned comfort into the hot sun.