BԪַ

Skip to content

BԪַIt breaks my heart:BԪַ heat wave taking a toll on pets, B.C. vet clinic staffer warns

In one shift on Saturday, there were 15 heat cases, 12 fatal
25642381_web1_210627-LAT-DF-pet-deaths-due-to-heat_2
Kaneycia Bush-McLean, a Langley City resident who works as a registered veterinary technician seen here with, with Quila (L) and Koda (R) said pet owners need to understand the hazards of the current heat wave. The clinic she works at had 15 heat stroke cases in one eight-hour shift, 13 fatal. (Special to Langley Advance Times)

A B.C. Langley veterinary clinic staffer posted a plea on social media to pet owners to take the heat wave seriously after seeing 15 cases of heat stroke, 12 fatal, during one eight-hour shift, on the first full day of the heat wave on Saturday, June 27.

Kaneycia Bush-McLean, a Langley City resident who works as a registered veterinary technician at the Animal Emergency Clinic of the Fraser Valley in Langley, said the toll included six rabbits and three dogs that died at home from heat stroke, as well as one cat and two dogs that had to be euthanized for severe heat stroke, and two dogs and one rabbit admitted to hospital for heat stroke on Saturday, June 26.

One dog died in their owners car, as they were being transported to the clinic, Bush-McLean said.

BԪַThere will be more and it just breaks my heart,BԪַ Bush-McLean predicted.

All were from surrounding neighbourhoods where the clinic is located.

READ MORE:

BԪַItBԪַs unfortunately not new to us,BԪַ Bush-McLean said.

BԪַI donBԪַt know what itBԪַs going to take for people to get the message.BԪַ

Pet owners need to know that pets can suffer heat stroke even inside a house when conditions are extremely hot, Bush-McLean told the Langley Advance-Times.

Young puppies or senior dogs are especially vulnerable, she added.

Bush-McLean suggests pet owners minimize bathroom breaks outside; keep pets in cooler rooms in the house, ideally with air conditioning, or with fans going on high.

BԪַIf your house is particularly warm keep them off of blankets and thick bedding if possible, BԪַ making them lay on cool tile or wood floors will help keep them cooler than carpet or blankets.

There are cooling products like bandanas and vests that can be found in stores, and while Bush-McLean expects places will start to run out of stock, getting a towel wet with cold water, wringing it out and laying it over them will provide the same benefits BԪַ however, it is important to remove the towel once it is no longer cold or it will start to heat up and trap the warmth in, she warned.

READ ALSO:

If a pet is struggling with the heat, she suggests reaching out to friends or family with air conditioning to see if they might be willing to pet-sit during the day.

BԪַI encourage people to take them to doggie day care.BԪַ

One online commenter got a thumbs-up from Bush-McLean for their tip:

They keep a stack of wet flat folded Frozen hand towels in Ziploc bags in their freezer and lay them out under a towel for the dog to lay on and keep their core temperature cool


Is there more to the story? Email: dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
Like us on and follow us on .


Dan Ferguson

About the Author: Dan Ferguson

Best recognized for my resemblance to St. Nick, IBԪַm the guy youBԪַll often see out at community events and happenings around town.
Read more



(or

BԪַ

) document.head.appendChild(flippScript); window.flippxp = window.flippxp || {run: []}; window.flippxp.run.push(function() { window.flippxp.registerSlot("#flipp-ux-slot-ssdaw212", "Black Press Media Standard", 1281409, [312035]); }); }