Birds, animals too feel scorching summer heat Parel animal hospital sees a rise in admissions due to heat-related problems, especially dehydration

Birds, animals too feel scorching summer heat

Parel animal hospital sees a rise in admissions due to heat-related problems, especially dehydration

Mumbai is reeling under the rising mercury, so are the birds and animals. The Bai Sakarbai Dinshaw Petit Hospital for Animals at Parel has been observing a marked rise in admissions due to heat-related problems, especially dehydration. Col Dr JC Khanna, secretary of the Bai Sakarbai Dinshaw Petit Hospital for Animals, said: "Every day, we get around six to seven birds, mostly kites, 15 to 20 dogs and eight to 10 cats to be treated for heat-related problems". Every summer, many birds die due to sunstroke as they find it difficult to find water in the concrete jungle. Most dehydrated animals and birds recover after a week's treatment at the animal hospital. "Pets are more affected by the heat compared with strays as the former. Pets are used to air-conditioned surroundings and get affected by the variation in the temperature outside the cool confines of homes," said Khanna. High protein diets are pre-disposing factors for renal problems in animals. There have been instances when canines refuse immediately eat the non-vegetarian food served to them and when they eat it later they develop stomach ailments. While humans can reduce their body temperature with perspiration, animals become overheated easily. Panting is the only way animals can regulate their body temperature, but it’s not an efficient way for them to cool down.