It’s not only you, dogs too bear the brunt of heat!

According to city veterinarians the dogs in the city owing to blazing heat are facing ailments ranging from high  fever, extreme dehydration, behavioural changes, loss of appetite causing drop in energy levels and also functioning of liver. In severe cases dogs are also losing their lives. 

Hari Dandotiya, Southern  District Animal Husbandry Officer, Delhi government, says: “Normally, dogs are more adaptable creatures and find their way in dealing with extreme weather conditions, however, the summer heat is also difficult for them to face. Not only are we receiving cases of dogs with fever but also various ailments related to this extreme summer.” Dr Dandotiya also emphasised that not only stray dogs but also domestic dogs are being affected.

In mentioning that there has been an increase in his workload due to large number of patients because of this intense heat, Dr C Bhattacharya, Veterinary Officer Madan Pur Khadar says that he is attending to 50 dogs daily.

Dr Bhattacharya says: “Most of the dogs they are attending to are facing extreme weakness and poor functioning of their liver due to the lack of appetite. Our team therefore tries to revitalise them by providing them with various vitamins along with liver tonics based on the functioning of their liver.” 

Dr Bhattachrya also mentioned that when  dogs, which are otherwise lively animals, start being lethargic and lazy and face the bout of mood swings like extreme restlessness, aggressiveness and continuous barking, they must be taken to the nearest vets.

According to experts, some of the symptoms of dogs facing heat strokes are extreme restlessness, continuous barking, frothing, dry gums, vomiting, lack of coordinated actions.

In extreme cases of ailments related to death, dogs often die. An attendant from Sanjay Gandhi Animal Care Centre says that daily there are 5-6 dog deaths due to heat stroke in the centre.