Goodbye to dog-gone days

People take extra precautions during the rains to stay healthy by trying to not get wet, keeping their feet clean, avoiding roadside food and several other routines that are introduced in one's lifestyle, particularly during this season. Likewise, your pets need some TLC too when it rains.

Keep them dry
Cats and dogs emit odour when their coats get wet, and during the monsoon, this becomes inevitable. "Whenever your pets get wet, they should be dried properly, to avoid skin and other infections and fleas and ticks. Chances of them getting infected are higher in the rains," informs Lt Col (Dr) JC Khanna of The Bombay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BSPCA). Using medicated talcs also helps, he adds.

Monitor their food
The frequency of outdoor activity and exercise reduce due to which obesity and problems related to indigestion crop up. "The frequency of feeding should be increased but the quantity feed of each meal should be reduced by dividing it in proper portions. So, if you feed your pet half a kilo of food, divide it in 250 gm portions and feed at different times of the day. This will aid digestion," says Khanna.

The quality of food also needs to be checked as chances of meats going bad are higher. Pets should be hydrated and their water bowls cleaned regularly. "If your pets are suffering from vomition, diarrhoea or fever, get it checked by a vet immediately," he advises.

Not only kids but animals also get scared of thunder and lightening, and behave erratically, "Animals suffer from anxiety too, they should be calmed when they display unusual behaviour at such times," says Khanna. Apart from dogs and cats, fishes are popular pets. When it rains, due to lower temperatures, the water temperature in tanks drops. Add a fist of regular rock salt to help maintain the temperature, and keep the fish active.u00a0