By JEN BAYLON

Negros Occidental is experiencing a rise in respiratory illnesses among farm animals, particularly poultry, due to the ongoing extreme heat, the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) said.

“There are many cases of animals developing colds, sometimes triggered by unexpected light rains following the heat. Our field personnel have observed this pattern,” PVO head Dr. Placeda Lemana said.

Lemana emphasized that sickness among animals is inevitable under such extreme weather conditions.

She stressed the importance of always providing water to livestock and pets to prevent dehydration.

“Animals must have constant access to water so they can drink whenever they feel thirsty,” Lemana said.

She also advised poultry growers to avoid overcrowding chickens in pens, noting that some chickens have been observed with runny noses, a sign of respiratory distress.

To help, the PVO will be distributing multivitamins with electrolytes to reduce dehydration and prevent severe illness of farm animals, aiming to mitigate the effects of heat stress on livestock health and productivity.

“We also disseminate information advising farmers to keep their animals in shaded areas and ensure proper ventilation,” she added.

These measures align with broader expert advice on managing heat stress in farm animals, which includes ensuring access to clean water, shade and good ventilation to reduce heat load and prevent illness during scorching temperatures./JB, WDJ