Heat warning from SKAH!

Heat warning from SKAH

Imagine you are a cat. Can you think of anything more scary than being wheeled around in a hot stuffy, clear carrier on the ground where all the scary things are? Dr Gen from Sai Kung Animal Hospital urges anyone considering using one of these carriers to think again.

Cats naturally like to be up high where they can survey both prey and predators. This is their instinct and why cats love being on top of the refrigerator, a cupboard or a high shelf. Being in a transparent bag without adequate airflow at ground level with dogs and people around would be petrifying. Even with ventilation holes, the stress and the heat build-up in any clear carrier bag/trolley case/backpack causes these bags to act like a hot-house or conservatory. It is literally like putting your pet in an oven especially in the hot Hong Kong weather.

Brachycephalic, or short face, cats (British Short Hair, Exotics, Persian) and dogs (Pugs, French Bull Dogs, Pekingese) are particularly high risk as their airways are already compromised.

Stress and overheating cause hypoxia which is low oxygen supply to the tissues. Respiratory distress can lead to collapse and death.

Please do not accessorize your pet by displaying it to the world in a clear carrier on wheels. It is not safe and you are putting your pets’ life at serious risk.

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About the Author

Dr Genevieve Touzel

BVSc MRCVS CertVetAc(IVAS)

Chief Veterinary Surgeon

At seven years of age, I was overjoyed when my parents introduced a mongrel pup, Marcel-Louis. He became my best friend. Realising how much I wanted to care for him and every other needy animal I could find, I decided to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. There was never any other alternative. I was thrilled to be offered a place at The University of Melbourne Veterinary School. I graduated in 1999 and I embarked on an adventurous journey of all things veterinary. Since then, I have worked as a veterinarian in the United Kingdom and Australia and in Hong Kong since 2016.

I have gained experience in mixed practice and small animal practice, dental, greyhound and equine practice. My work has also included working in emergency and critical care hospitals and charity clinics including the position of Head Veterinary Surgeon at an SPCA branch practice in Hong Kong. I have completed post graduate studies in Emergency and Critical Care. My passion for improving the quality of life in senior pets and practicing holistic medicine inspired me to pursue and acquire a board certification in Veterinary Acupuncture. Since 2021 I have been the Chief Veterinary Surgeon of SKAH and am now very proud to be certified as a Fear-Free Professional.

I live in Sai Kung with my family including Harry, a feisty toe-biting and rat-hunting ginger cat and Flo, a gentle, devoted Hong Kong Mongrel. Outside of work, I love to run the trails with Flo, explore Hong Kong with my family and travel to international conferences to keep up to date with the latest advances in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery.

It is a privilege to be trusted with the care of someone’s beloved animal. After many years, I still love the way medicine evolves. Seeing the difference that preventative health care and treatment makes to the longevity and well-being of my patients is wonderful. It is a team effort. Working with families is also paramount in making a successful care plan. Every animal (and their humans!) are unique.

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