KOLKATA: Zoom, a 15-month-old Cocker Spaniel, has been suffering from intense diarrhoea over the past few days and his companions, two Lhasa Apsos, have grown lethargic and are showing signs of indigestion.Gulzar, a nine-month-old rabbit has been showing signs of dehydration and uneasiness, and refuses to run around, preferring to stay in a corner of the room.Zoom and Gulzar are among hundreds of pets in the city who are suffering from diseases triggered by the increasing heat and humidity . “My cocker spaniel seems to be the most affected by the heat as it is refusing to eat and is suffering from diarrhoea. The other two dogs are also suffering from indigestion and lethargy. I have seen a vet who advised pro-biotic liquid and antacid, and a rehashed meal of mashed pumpkin, vegetables and chicken stew,” said dog owner Goutam Sarkar, the vice principal of a south Kolkata school, adding, “Regular baths and plenty of drinking water is also crucial, the doctors said.”Sarkar also owns an African grey parrot and a sulphur-crested cockatoo, which, he said, were adapting better. However, they were often getting irritated and had to be sprayed with water from time to time and kept in well-ventilated places.Baghajatin resident Jaya Roy and Kasba student Priyanka Chatterjee have arranged for sponge baths for their pet cat and rabbit, Gulzar, respectively. The animals’ diets have also been changed. They now get a limited amount of food and plenty of water.“Along with a sponge bath from time to time, it’s also important to keep the room well ventilated and shaded. I’m also keeping a frozen water bottle in the room and Gulzar is lying against it every now and then,” Chatterjee said. Gulzar’s diet has also been altered to include more leafy vegetables.According to veterinarians, dogs don’t sweat out excess body heat. They have sweat glands in their paws, but they do little to help regulate body temperature. “Dogs regulate their body temperature by panting. But at times, even panting cannot prevent them from getting overheated. The steady elevation in body temperature can cause heat exhaustion, which may even cause heat stroke and force multiple organs to shut down all of a sudden,” said senior veterinary surgeon Chandrakanta Chakraborty.While all dogs are at risk of overheating, some breeds are more prone to it than others. This includes those with thick coats or long hair, the very young or the very old, and brachycephalic breeds — those with short noses and flat faces. Doctors have now warned pet owners about the early signs of overheating, like glazed eyes, lethargy, rapid heart rate, excessive drooling, fever, dizziness or lack of coordination and loss of consciousness.