Kim Myung-cheol and Seol Chae-hyun’s wise companion animal retreat: Weekly Donga

We heard from experts how to live a wise life while taking care of your health with your pets in summer. [GETTYIMAGES]

It’s the season when you get steamy even if you just sit there, lose energy because of the humidity, and even go up to the discomfort index. Humans are like this, but what regarding animals that can’t speak? It would be great if you might tell what your pets are thinking and needing just by looking at their eyes, but there are more people who can’t, so I prepared this. These are summer health care tips for cats and dogs that I heard directly from Myeong-cheol Kim, director of N Animal Medical Center Nowon Branch, veterinarian specializing in cats, ‘Miyaong-cheol’, and Chae-hyeon Seol, ‘Surainer’, director of Nolo Behavior Clinic. Director Kim runs the YouTube channel ‘Miyaongcheol’s Nyangnyang Punch’, and Director Seol runs the YouTube channel ‘Seol Chae-hyun’s Nolowa’, passing on know-how to many companion animal families.

Tips for Cat Butlers
[도움말 김명철]

How do you know if your cat is getting hot or ate heat?

“You can tell if your pet is in the heat by looking at the change in the rest area. If you sleep or rest on a bathroom tiled floor or marble entryway, it means you’re starting to get hot. Also, if you have reduced movement and appetite throughout the day, and frequently breathe with your mouth open, it means that the heat has become unbearable.

However, there is no need to worry too much as the condition will improve if the average indoor temperature is managed well. However, if you are accompanied by a decrease in vitality and weight loss, you may have a medical condition and seek medical attention. In addition, if left in a closed vehicle, heat stroke may be suspected, so emergency visits are required. In this case, wet a large towel with water, wrap the pet, and take the basic treatment of lowering body temperature while blowing cool air.”

How often should you bathe your cat? Please tell me how to take good care of my hair. It is said that brushing more often in summer is good for body temperature control, but will it actually help?

“Pets don’t have sweat glands all over their bodies like humans, so summer doesn’t mean they need to bathe more often than in other seasons. Plus, cats spend a lot of time grooming themselves every day, so they don’t need a bath on a regular basis. However, if you do not dry your hair well in summer, eczema may occur on the skin due to the high humidity and high temperature, so you should dry the hair thoroughly following bathing. If your hair is clumped in summer, ventilation is not good and the weather is hot and humid, which can damage your skin. For papers that get a lot of heat, brushing the fur can help manage body temperature.”

If you live with a cat, it is a good idea to keep the room temperature constant and brush its fur frequently. [GETTYIMAGES]

Leaving the air conditioner on for too long is bad for your pet. What should I pay attention to when cooling the house where I live with my cat?

“Simply blowing air from the air conditioner is not a problem for your cat. However, it is even more difficult for cats when the indoor temperature is uncontrollable, such as when the room temperature is too low or when the guardian is not present, it is too hot, and when the guardian arrives, it becomes too cold. Always keep the room temperature constant at 27-28 degrees, and ventilate the room for 10 minutes every 3 to 4 hours while cooling. Before using the air conditioner, clean it well in advance to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria and mold and threaten the cat’s respiratory tract.”

In the hot summer, do you need to make your cat drink water as often as humans do?

“Drinking water in summer is enough to allow your cat to drink whenever he wants. Like humans, drinking too much cold water in summer doesn’t cause stomach upset or anything like that. Occasionally floating an ice cube or two in a water bowl can be a fun playground and a drinking spot for your cat.”

I give wet feed, but it’s hot and humid, so I’m worried. Please tell me what to pay attention to when feeding your cat.

“Caution is essential when feeding wet feed in the summer. It is because there is a possibility of spoilage if left at room temperature for more than half a day following feeding. Wet feed should be given when parents are with them, and leftover feed should not be left unattended for more than 2 hours. If large-capacity dry food is opened and left unattended for a long time, it may deteriorate or mold.

Are there any medications or injections your pet should take in the summer?

“Mosquitoes are rampant in summer, and heartworm is a mosquito-borne virus that can infect both dogs and cats, so you need to be careful. In particular, it is recommended to use a monthly general repellent (including heartworm prevention effect) well, and for dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors, choose a comprehensive repellent with a wide range of repellents to prevent ectoparasites.”

Tips for Dog Butlers
[도움말 설채현]

When you go for a walk with your dog, it is best to only go in the shade or adjust the walking time before and following sunrise. [GETTYIMAGES]

Is it better to wear shoes when the sun is too hot for a walk with your dog? Or is it better to take a walk or change routes or times?

“When walking with your dog, it is better to wear a koban or socks that wrap around the paws well rather than hard shoes. However, this method also cannot block the heat of the asphalt and it prevents the evaporation of sweat from the feet, so it is better to walk only in the shade where there is no sun or to take a walk before and following sunrise when the floor is not hot. Also, in the hot summer, don’t take a walk too much, take a break and drink water.”

How do you know if your dog is in the heat? What symptoms should I take to the hospital?

“If your dog eats the heat, his body temperature may initially be higher than usual, lethargy, difficulty breathing due to excessive panting, saliva, and the mucous membranes in the mouth may become dry or dark red, purple, blue or pale. If left unattended, vomiting, diarrhea, increased heart rate, unconsciousness, muscle tremors, seizures, etc. may occur, so seek medical attention as soon as possible.

If symptoms are not severe, immediately get out of the hot environment, give him a drink of cool water in moderation, and wipe his body with a damp towel. At this time, if you put a towel around your body, just wipe it as if it were wet to trap heat. Also, blowing a little wind over the damp coat helps to lower the body temperature.”

How should I adjust the temperature of my dog’s bath water? I’m also curious regarding summer hair care tips.

“The body temperature of a dog is 38-39 degrees, so it is better to bathe it at a moderately warm temperature when a person feels it. If you take a bath in cold water following a walk because it seems too hot, blood vessels constrict and heat dissipation is hindered, which is not good. Bathing cycle varies depending on the condition of the fur, but once every 2-3 weeks and once a month for short-haired dogs is appropriate. Bathing too often can cause the skin to lose its oil layer, which can make your skin weak, itchy, or dry your hair. Be sure to dry your hair well.

If you shave your hair too tightly, you can actually expose your skin to the sun, which can irritate it and make it even hotter. Especially for double-haired dogs, the outer coat protects the skin from the sun and the undercoat falls out, allowing the air to pass through the space to keep it cool.

It’s a very hot day, so I’m leaving the air conditioner on all day, but I’m worried that it might be bad for my dog’s health. Is it better to use a fan than an air conditioner?

“A dog’s body temperature is 1-2 degrees higher than that of a human, so setting the air conditioner to a too low temperature can cause a drop in body temperature. The optimum indoor temperature in summer is 23°C for double and long-haired breeds and 25°C for short-haired breeds (20-22°C in winter). If the room temperature is a little low, please wear light clothes and bring a blanket. Humans sweat, so you can feel cool even with the tepid wind from the fan, but your dog doesn’t sweat as a whole, so it doesn’t have a big effect. If you open your mouth while panting, the fan blows the heat out of your mouth faster, but it is better to use an air conditioner or air conditioner.”

How often should you drink water per day?

“The proper amount of water a dog should drink per day is 50 to 70 ml per kg. Your dog may drink a little more water than usual on a hot summer walk as he pans and evaporates saliva from his mouth to regulate his body temperature. However, if you drink more than 100ml, you should suspect a disease such as diabetes or Cushing.”

What should you pay attention to when feeding your dog during the summer?

“Wet food should not be left at room temperature for more than two hours in hot summer, as it is easy for bacteria to grow and spoils quickly. Even dry food may go bad if left at room temperature for more than a day, so take care of it.”

Do you have any medications or injections your dog should take in the summer?

“Heartworm larvae are transmitted when a mosquito sucks the blood of a dog infected with heartworm and then sucks the blood of another dog. It takes an average of 50 days for an adult to become an adult, but it is recommended to prevent it once a month as it can only be treated with a preventive drug when it is a larva. Prevention is essential, especially in summer or early autumn, when mosquitoes are high. If atopic dermatitis worsens due to humid and hot weather, find the cause at the hospital and prescribe medication or injection to relieve symptoms.”

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Weekly Donga No. 1350 (p32~34)