Millions of UK dog owners have been hit with a warning as warm and sunny spells have returned across much of the country.
Temperature are expected to rise from Thursday with the Met Office predicting highs of 23C in Liverpool. Forecasters have also warned that thunderstorms may accompany the heat.
Esme Wheeler, dog welfare specialist at the RSPCA told the ECHO: "We’ve had a period of cooler weather recently, so this upcoming ‘return’ to summer is naturally going to get people excited to be out and about and making the most of it, but it’s really important we don’t forget the impact of any warm weather on our pets.
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"It may be a short burst of heat, but our pets still need us to treat it with extra caution and put everything we can in place to keep them safe."
Pet owners are being urged to remember that even short bouts of hot weather can poses a huge risk to animal welfare – with everything from sunburn to heat stroke, dehydration and burned paws from hot pavements.
Esme continued: “If every pet owner can arm themselves with the knowledge to detect the early signs of heatstroke, as well as get into the habit of appropriately leaving their dogs at home in a cool, well-ventilated space at the first sign of hot weather, we really believe many animals’ lives will be saved.
“Our message is simple – if in doubt, don’t go out. It can be really tempting when the weather is suddenly really hot again, but too many times we have seen people out running with their dogs, cycling with their dogs running alongside, or throwing balls for their dogs during hot weather, with beloved pets often left panting heavily and at serious risk of overheating."
Signs of mild heat-related illness in dogs:
- Excessive panting that doesn’t stop when the dog rests
- Difficulty breathing, especially if there is unusual noise or any blue/grey tinge to gums or tongue
- Unusual tiredness – becoming tired sooner than normal
- Changes in behaviour – lying down more frequently and stumbling
- Less keen to play
If left untreated this can progress to more severe illness, including diarrhoea and/or vomiting, seizures, bleeding under the skin, and even collapsing. If you spot any of the above signs in your dog you should:
- Stop them from exercising immediately
- Move them into the shade
- Give them small amounts of cool (not ice cold) water to drink
- Wet the dog thoroughly by immersion (avoid the dog’s head going under water) and/or pour the water over them and ensure air movement (use a fan or air conditioning) to dry them. The water just needs to be colder than the dog to be effective.
- Call your vet for advice immediately but ensure you cool the dog while waiting to take them for veterinary care
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