THE Office of the City Veterinarian (OCVet) in Zamboanga urged residents to take appropriate precautions to prevent the occurrence of heat stroke among their pets this summer.
Dr. Mario Arriola, OCVet head, said dogs and cats that have long hair and thick coats are particularly vulnerable to heat stroke with the high temperature brought in by summer.
"They cannot dissipate heat from their body," Arriola said, adding that dogs and cats do not have a lot of sweat glands to help them cool down.
While no case of heat stroke has been reported, the OCVet has issued tips and advisories for pet owners.
At the top of the list is to ensure proper ventilation and that clean water is always available for pets.
In addition, Arriola advised pet owners to avoid letting dogs out during the hottest hours of the day, which he noted is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Bong Garcia/VoxPop Philippines)