Dog summer care. How to protect your dogs from the summer temperatures. Cause to our beloved four-legged friends! The RSPCA warns owners not to take their dogs for short walks during high temperatures. The charity said that while many people know not to leave their pets in the car or take them for long walks in the heat, they could still put them at risk by going for short walks.
The warning comes as the UK recorded its hottest day on Wednesday. BBC forecasters predicted highs of up to 25°C in Liverpool on Friday. Esme Wheeler, a dog welfare specialist at the RSPCA, said: ‘The truth is that when dogs are out walking, the heat can be a death trap for them.
Although most would never leave their dogs in the car on a hot day or even take them for a long walk, during hot weather, many people can still put their dogs at risk even on a short walk or take them to places like fields and beaches with little or no shade.
We have long argued that dogs die when left in a car under the wind for a short time, but this year, we are pointing out that dogs also die on hot walks. The message remains straightforward: never leave a dog in a hot car because ‘they are a devil’s trap’, and when it comes to walks, ‘when in doubt, don’t go out.
Protect dogs from the summer temperatures. Expert advice
Dr Dan O’Neill, associate professor of companion animal epidemiology at the Royal Veterinary College, echoed the RSPCA’s warning about dog walking in hot weather. He said: ‘Heat-related illnesses can lead to organ failure, brain damage and death.
Most people know that dogs die in hot cars. Still, the reality is that more than ten times more dogs need veterinary treatment for heat-related illnesses after exercise than after overheating in a vehicle. In addition, it can take weeks for a dog to adapt to warm weather, and hot weather can be hazardous after a cold period.
Every summer, the RSPCA receives hundreds of reports of dogs being left in cars sweltering or over-exercised during hot weather and having their paws burnt by pavement. So the charity recommends walking early or late in the evening when temperatures are more relaxed or even skipping a walk.
Older dogs, those with thick hair, flat-faced breeds and those with health problems may be more at risk. Owners should check that the floor is not too hot by testing whether they can comfortably keep their hands on the floor for five seconds.
Other tips from the RSPCA to keep dogs excellent include having a kiddie pool, using a damp towel to lie on and adding ice cubes to their water.
The charity also urges people to be aware of signs of heat-related illness so they can seek veterinary attention if necessary, including excessive panting, unusual breathing noises, lethargy, stumbling and a blue or grey tinge to the gums or tongue.
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