Con il caldo attenti agli animali temperature rapidly, soaring increase in the coming hours on most of the peninsula, provided tips, warn meteorologists, even 40 degrees in the areas most affected, Sardinia and Sicily. A grief le conseguenze del gran caldo saranno non soltanto gli esseri umani, specie anziani e bambini, ma anche gli animali. Ed è proprio per tutelare la loro salute e incolumità che vogliamo diramare un breve vademecum con alcuni preziosi suggerimenti:
1. Non lasciare mai un animale incustodito in auto. Nei giorni di sole, la temperatura interna dell’abitacolo sale rapidamente, anche con i finestrini aperti, e l’auto si trasforma in un vero e proprio forno. Un animale lasciato in queste condizioni può morire in poco tempo; bastano anche solo 10 minuti – il tempo di fare una spesa veloce – per condannarlo ad una morte orribile;
2. Se qualcuno dovesse vedere un animale rinchiuso all’interno di un veicolo, deve pay attention to any symptoms of heat stroke (breathing problems, general fatigue) and, if nothing is done as soon as the animal is likely to run a serious life-threatening and should be traced as soon as the owner of the vehicle. If he were not immediately available should call the police to intervene in cases of proven emergency. The telephone numbers 112 (Carabinieri), 113 (State Police), 115 (Fire Brigade) and 1515 (Forest Service) are all used for these cases. In the meantime you must try to create shadow still using the resources available (eg newspapers on the windshield), to pour water in to wet the animal o, se possibile, di farlo bere attraverso un’eventuale fessura del finestrino.
3. Assicurarsi che gli animali abbiano sempre accesso all’ombra e acqua fresca in abbondanza. Questo suggerimento riguarda soprattutto i cani tenuti nelle ditte, negli orti o nei recinti (specie se a catena), e quindi meno controllati rispetto a quelli in appartamento. Evitare sempre l'esposizione al sole diretto, anche nel caso dell'animale che passa alcune ore da solo in casa, in giardino/cortile o in terrazza. In caso di colpo di calore (ipertermia) - se ha la pelle che scotta, barcolla o cade a terra, e ha difficoltà a respirare - è necessario abbassargli la temperatura mettendogli abbondante acqua fresca su tutto il corpo e contattare immediatamente your veterinarian.
4. Do not force the dogs to excessive force. On warm days to take the dog for a walk in the morning and evening to avoid burning your feet on the hot ground and to decrease the risk of hyperthermia. Even more so if it is an older animal and / or breathing difficulties. During the walks you always have a bottle of water and a bowl.
5. Prevent sunburn. Like people, pets can burn in the sun. To protect them is sufficient to apply a sunscreen with a high protection to the white end (especially the tips of the ears) of the dog or cat before it comes out.
6. Keep the aquarium out of direct sunlight. Change the water regularly and remove the algae that form. The pond should be filled regularly to compensate for the water that evaporates and replace the lost oxygen.
7. Do not let the canary to the balcony to direct sunlight. It 'necessary to position the bird's cage in a cool, ventilated and shaded.
8. Check for external parasites. With the heat came the fleas, ticks and mites, so you should regularly check the hair of four-legged to verify the presence of these unwanted visitors. First apply a pesticide appropriate for its species and size. Always consult your vet for guidance and suggestions in this regard, some pesticides Dogs, for example, are lethal to cats.
9. Every day, the animals for the presence of eggs of flies. Flies can deposit their eggs on the hair of rabbits, guinea pigs, but also dogs. It 'important to carefully inspect the entire body of the animal, keep clean the place where he lives and change at least once a week the litter or the bottom.
10. Before doing yard work, think about the wildlife that lives there. Be very careful when using lawn mowers or lawn: both can be lethal for animals that move slowly, keep away from animal pesticides. Before lighting a campfire, you should move the material that will burn: lizards, hedgehogs, frogs and snakes (animals are completely harmless, even useful) often burrow among the piles of leaves or garden waste. Adapted from
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