DUBAI // Veterinarians say they are concerned about the number of pets being treated for heatstroke.
The condition presents a risk all year, but can be exaggerated in the summer, doctors said
Rebecca Turner, a practice manager at the Modern Veterinary Clinic in Dubai, said that over the past three months, the facility had received on average one severe case of heatstroke per week.
Overall, residents are keeping their pets safe, she said. But she recalled a recent incident in which a French Bulldog was brought to the clinic after it had died.
The owners were at work, and while the housekeeper was cleaning the flat, she opened the balcony door. The dog followed the maid outside, but when she walked back in, she closed the door and left the dog behind, Ms Turner said. The owners arrived two hours later and found the dog dead.
"When the owners brought in the dog, his two front paws had blood on them because the dog was frantically trying to come inside. This is an extreme case, but the dog had been on the balcony for two hours," Ms Turner said.
Although dogs of all breeds are affected by the heat, bulldogs, pugs and Pekinese are among the short-nosed breeds that are most vulnerable, because they have trouble regulating their core temperature through breathing.
"We get dogs of different types of breeds ... sometimes they pull through and other times we can't help them if it is an extreme case," said Ms Turner.
Dogs bred for cold climates, such as huskies and chow chows, and overweight or obese dogs face an increased risk of heatstroke.
Vets stressed the importance of pet owners walking their dogs during the cooler early morning or evening hours.
Dr Matt Pietrak, a veterinarian at the Desert Veterinary Clinic, highlighted the crucial role of education in protecting pets from the heat.
"Usually people don't know. The reason for all these unnecessary deaths ... is plain old ignorance and a lack of knowledge about animals," said Dr Pietrak, who has worked in Dubai for 23 years.
He added that people should not be fooled by the sunset, as the high humidity could also represent a danger.
He advised owners to carry "doggy bottles" filled with water to keep their pets hydrated during walks.
"Two weeks ago, we saw a two-year-old male Labrador whose owner had taken him for a half-hour walk at 3pm.
Within 15 minutes of coming back home, the dog started to show signs of illness," Ms Turner said.
Despite the clinic doing its best to rehydrate the dog with an intravenous drip and fluids, the dog, which had been perfectly healthy, passed away.
Some pets may pull through heatstroke with the aid of fluids and cold towels to cool them down. Many, however, are not so lucky, and suffer irreversible damage to their kidneys or brains.
"Heatstroke involves a state of shock that leads quickly to death ... pets would be panting a lot and show signs of dizziness," said Dr Walter Tarello, of Pet Connection Vet Clinic. "Sometimes, they stand on their feet again, but can die three days later due to renal failure."
Gail Gordon, from England, said her husband walked their three dogs - a golden retriever called Rusty, a Labrador called Lucky, and a shih tzu called Snoopy - at 6am and 8.30pm. The couple has netting over part of their garden for shade. They also keep fresh water inside and outside their home.
"Most of the time, I rarely see dog owners walking their pets - it is the house staff," Mrs Gordon said.
"If I ask why they are walking the dogs during the hot hours of the day, they say their madam told them to do so. They don't have a clue that the red bricks on the pavements hold even more heat."
Mrs Gordon cautioned owners not to leave their dogs or cats in hot cars, not even with the windows open.
Maya Derbas, from Lebanon, said she had built a small outdoor home for her dog, Rozy, and her eight puppies.
"Rozy and her kids have a small house that I built, so in the summer they can stay in, but the door of the house stays open for them," she said.
Ms Derbas added that the harsh climate in Dubai dictates that owners should take extra care, and if they had no choice but to take their dogs out for walks, to make sure they have a cool floor and water at their disposal when they returned.
"I'm against taking dogs for long walks under the heat," Ms Derbas said.
"I once saw a man walking his husky in Dubai in June - that was not smart at all."
balqabbani@thenational.ae
How much of your income do you need to save?
The more you save, the sooner you can retire. Tuan Phan, a board member of SimplyFI.com, says if you save just 5 per cent of your salary, you can expect to work for another 66 years before you are able to retire without too large a drop in income.
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Obviously, this is only a rough guide. How much you save will depend on variables, not least your salary and how much you already have in your pension pot. But it shows what you need to do to achieve financial independence.
Volvo ES90 Specs
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- loss of confidence and appetite
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Acknowledge how you are feeling by listening to your warning signs. Set boundaries and learn to say ‘no’
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Emirates Cricket Board Women’s T10
ECB Hawks v ECB Falcons
Monday, April 6, 7.30pm, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
The match will be broadcast live on the My Sports Eye Facebook page
Hawks
Coach: Chaitrali Kalgutkar
Squad: Chaya Mughal (captain), Archara Supriya, Chamani Senevirathne, Chathurika Anand, Geethika Jyothis, Indhuja Nandakumar, Kashish Loungani, Khushi Sharma, Khushi Tanwar, Rinitha Rajith, Siddhi Pagarani, Siya Gokhale, Subha Srinivasan, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish
Falcons
Coach: Najeeb Amar
Squad: Kavisha Kumari (captain), Almaseera Jahangir, Annika Shivpuri, Archisha Mukherjee, Judit Cleetus, Ishani Senavirathne, Lavanya Keny, Mahika Gaur, Malavika Unnithan, Rishitha Rajith, Rithika Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Shashini Kaluarachchi, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi, Vaishnave Mahesh
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
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Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
In numbers
1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:
- 800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
- 150 tonnes to landfill
- 50 tonnes sold as scrap metal
800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal
Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year
25 staff on site
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
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NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 3.9 seconds
Price: Dh230,000
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PROFILE
Name: Enhance Fitness
Year started: 2018
Based: UAE
Employees: 200
Amount raised: $3m
Investors: Global Ventures and angel investors
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
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THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
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On sale: Available for preorder now
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
Richard Jewell
Director: Clint Eastwood
Stars: Paul Walter Hauser, Sam Rockwell, Brandon Stanley
Two-and-a-half out of five stars