Animals feel the heat as mercury rises..Today's Mumbai Mirror Page 11

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Below is the Article appeared in Today's Mumbai Mirror Page 11, A Times

of India publication.

 

 

Regards,

 

 

Nilesh Bhanage

(: +91-251-2625059

www.pawsasia.org <http://www.pawsasia.org/>

Cell : +91 9820161114

" Hands that help are holier than lips that pray. "

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Animals feel the heat as mercury rises

 

Number of birds and animals getting treated for heat strokes at

veterinary hospitals has tripled over the last few weeks

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Posted On Monday, April 21, 2008

Nilesh Nikade

The number of birds and animals who have been admitted to veterinary

hospitals for treatment for heat strokes have tripled in last few weeks.

 

Last Sunday, Mumbai recorded its highest temperature for the season at

34.4 degree Celsius.

 

Birds and animals are finding it increasingly difficult to cope up with

the increase in temperatures because of their low perspiration rate.

Nilesh Bhanage, secretary, Plant and Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) said,

" We faced extreme temperatures during winter. With the way the mercury

is rising, this summer's going to be very bad, especially for the

animals.

 

" In the last week itself, I have come across three cases of heat stroke

among birds and animals.

 

" We have been treating them at our clinics or if their condition is

serious, we send them for treatment to Society for prevention for

cruelty to Animals (SPCA). "

 

What is a heat stroke?

 

Dr V M Charier, a veterinary surgeon said, " Animals and birds have a

limited capacity for perspiration. They perspire through mouth, eyes or

ear, which is insufficient in such hot and humid conditions.

 

" They tend to become restless, as their body functions are disturbed due

to change in the temperature.

 

" This disturbance will then result into collapse of temperature

controlling mechanism and the body temperature will keep rising

endlessly.

 

" This stage is called heat stroke. This illness is more common in

free-roaming animals. "

 

Mercury rising

 

Doctors at SPCA, Thane, are handling almost a dozen patient every week.

Shakuntala Mujumdar who heads SPCA, Thane says, " Earlier, we would come

across heat stroke cases in May. However, this year, we are handling a

large number of cases in early April itself.

 

" While earlier, we would have four to five number of cases a week, now

we have to deal with almost a dozen. "

 

SPCA released seven birds last week around forest areas in Thane, after

treating them for heat stroke. Number of heat stroke cases among dogs

have also shown a significant rise. " Young stray dogs are some of the

most common victims of heat stroke. The natural instinct of drinking

water or finding shade is yet to develop among in young stray dogs.

Moreover, they move on tarred roads that get overheated during these

months. Thus, they fall prey to the heat, " says Arvind Shah of Karuna,

who have treated 17 dogs since beginning of April.

 

If you find an animal suffering from heat stroke

 

* Place animal in cool place

 

* Give it ice to lick

 

* Ice packs should be applied on the animal's head and body

 

* Give it cold milk to drink

 

* Consult a veterinarian

 

CAUTION FOR PETS

 

Never leave your pet inside a locked car. The temperature inside a

locked car will be almost 5 to 10 degree higher than the normal

temperature. The high temperature can put your pet's life in danger.