In case you didn’t know, Thailand is experiencing a heatwave now, not unlike Malaysia where this hot spell is expected to last until May possibly. However, it looks like people in Thailand aren’t coping well with this heatwave, especially the pets as temperatures are expected to reach 43°C in the North. Be careful if you’re heading to Thailand soon!

According to Coconuts, small pets have been bearing the brunt of the heat and succumbing to heatstroke and one of them is famed rocker Athiwara “Toon Bodyslam” Khongmalai’s beloved pet dog. His French bulldog passed away on Friday (April 19) and sadly, the pooch’s death is not the only victim of the heatstroke.

Pong Techapongtada, a veterinarian at the Thonglor Pet Hospital told the news portal that many pet owners have been rushing their furkids to the emergency room almost every day but in many cases, some of them came too late. A pet store owner, B.A.R.F Station, in Bangkok shared a similar story, where his Siberian Husky, Lucky got sick during a vacation and they quickly drove back for treatment.

However, Lucky died a day later and the owners wrote, “Have fun running and playing in heaven, Lucky. Rest in Peace.” With over 13,000 shares at the time of writing, the post has gone viral, with many pet lovers sharing their tragic experiences. One two-month-old puppy died recently as well due to heat stroke while another was thankfully saved in the nick of time after the owner showered her with cold water repeatedly. Other pets including gerbils, hamsters and cats have also been experiencing the same situation.

In hindsight, Lucky’s owners said that they missed out on the signs, when blood started seeping out of his snout which stopped but then Lucky jumped repeatedly in the pond, trying to cool off. Other signs include excessive panting and drooling, having trouble breathing, irregular heartbeat, vomiting, puking blood, weakness, stupor or collapsing, seizures and bloody diarrhea.

Make sure that you cool down your pet by wrapping them in towels soaked in lukewarm water, placing them in front of a fan to bring their temperature down. Using cold water can be a shock to their system and is not advised. Always seek professional medical advice after your pet has cooled down in case more treatment is needed as well.

Meanwhile, humans aren’t spared from the heatwave either, as one Thai woman’s mobile phone exploded when she accidentally left it in the car, The Nation reported. She shared photos of her damaged vehicle after her phone exploded and her windshield was burnt and blackened. The Thai authorities have already issued a public warning about the heatstroke and advised others to stay in the shade and avoid vigorous outdoor activities.

If you’re heading to Thailand soon, then do take note of this! Stay hydrated and safe guys!

Also read: The Heatwave Is So Bad We Might Not Have Enough Water To Plant Padi