I'm A Vet – Here's How To Keep Dogs Cool In Roasting Hot Weather

The UK is on track for its driest spring on record, and temperatures remain high amidst a remarkably long-running hot spell.That might be good news for sun lovers, but it can spell disaster for farmers, gardeners, and even your dog. Your furry friend is as capable as you are of developing harmful conditions like heat exhaustion and deadly heatstroke.Jen Wormleighton, in-house vet at dog insurance provider Animal Friends Pet Insurance, tells HuffPost UK: ”With temperatures climbing, dog owners will need to be especially careful when it comes to keeping their pups cool and safe.” Here are her tips for keeping your dogs safe in the heat: 1. Reschedule walkies”Avoid walking your dogs in the heat to reduce the risk of heatstroke, sunburn and burned paws on hot surfaces,” the expert said.“Instead, try to walk your dogs earlier in the morning and later in the evening, avoiding the hotter hours.” The NHS said the hours between 11am-3pm are especially sunny and hot.“Try to keep the walk short and avoid any activities that could result in overexertion,” Wormleighton said.2. Keep an eye on the temperature “As a rule of thumb, once temperatures reach 24°C, sunstroke becomes a high risk and extreme caution should be taken, particularly with large, very young or flat-faced dogs,” the vet told us.“At 28°C, the heat becomes dangerous for all dogs, but life-threatening for the same vulnerable breeds,” she added.“Never walk your dogs if the temperature exceeds 32°C, as this temperature is life-threatening to all dogs.” 3. Give your dog a cooling treatWe all fancy something cold when it’s hot out, and Wormleighton said dogs are no exception. “Try giving your dog cold treats from the fridge or freezer, like carrots, sliced apples or other pooch-friendly foods, as a fun way to keep them cool,” she suggested.“You can also prepare some frozen treats in advance of hot periods, like a frozen Kong stuffed with dog-friendly food, or a frozen licky mat.“Creating chilled puzzles will help to keep your dog stimulated and active, but without exercising vigorously in the heat.” 4. Monitor your dog closelyDogs will have different reactions to the heat, the expert said, so you should monitor your dog closely to see how they’re holding up in the sun. “Sunstroke can be life-threatening, so keep an eye out for symptoms including heavy panting, tiredness, drooling, vomiting or collapse, and take them to the vet immediately if you notice any of these symptoms,” she advised.5. Provide cool spacesLastly, it’s key to provide enough shade and cool spots for dogs. The vet added: “Always make sure your dog has a place where they can go to cool down, such as a shaded area, or a cool room indoors, and make sure there is plenty of water available for them in multiple places around the house and garden so they can stay hydrated.”Related...Don’t Ignore These Heatstroke Symptoms In Children And BabiesThis Is Why The Heat Makes You Sleepy, And How To Tackle It8 Signs Of Heat Stroke That Mean You Should Call 999

Comments

Breaking news

'No platform': Protest to be held against controversial metal singer in Glasgow

The Herald

Comments

Similar News

Rory McIlroy Dismisses Accusations of Bad Treatment from Bryson DeChambeau: "I'm Not Trying to Be His Best Mate'

I was wrongly imprisoned for FIVE years for child sex crimes and used my life savings to prove my innocence but I'm told I'll never see a penny of compensation

I'm a fashion editor who's obsessed with summer dresses - here's everything I'll be buying from the new Gap x Dôen collaboration

I'm far from quitting as Man Utd coach - Amorim

Helen Flanagan puts house she bought with ex Scott Sinclair on the market for £1.5m - double what she paid for it - and will have to wave goodbye to incredible designer-filled dressing room after admitting she is 'broke'

I'm far from quitting but Man Utd need to perform - Amorim

M&D’s Highly Recommended for ‘Best Day Out category’ at Scottish Entertainment & Hospitality Awards

'I'm a vet and this is how often you should really be brushing your dog's teeth'

'Entitled neighbour always parks outside my house so I'm taking drastic action'

Schumer: I'm Not Saying if I Knew Biden Was Fit in Early '24, 'That's It'

I've been targeted by robbers and been the victim of 'anti-Semitic abuse' on the Tube - I'm now scared to go to work in lawless London

M&S warns shoppers they could be targeted by scammers after hackers stole customers' contact details, dates of birth and order histories in massive cyber attack

I'm ditching my Premium Bonds to get a better rate. But my husband's holding on to his - so who's right?

JAN MOIR: A tearful Kim Kardashian was dripping in more than £1m worth of diamonds as she came face to face with £7.5m 'Grandpa Robbers' in jewellery heist trial

The Papers: 'I'm not bitter' after 38 years in jail, and weight-loss drugs

It’s Not Just A Cyber Attack, It’s An M&S Cyber Attack

'I was jailed for 38 years for murder I didn't commit - but I'm not angry or bitter'

'I'm not angry, I'm not bitter': 'Beast of Birkenhead' Peter Sullivan breaks silence as he walks free for first time in 38 years after his conviction for brutal murder of Diane Sindall was quashed

'I've never had sex with my wife so I'm sleeping with my first teenage love instead'

I'm a 103-year-old grandmother who has become a TikTok sensation after showing off my make-up routine

Breaking news

'No platform': Protest to be held against controversial metal singer in Glasgow

Come Dine With Me winner guilty after threatening to 'p*** on' late partner's grave

The quiet market town where homes are changing hands in a day

Dad who stabbed daughter, 14, to death will not have his sentence increased

SNP ferry fiasco costs hit '£1 billion' as John Swinney told Scots can't trust him with taxpayers' cash

Glasgow drugs traffickers arrested while trying to board plane to Amsterdam jailed

Green light for extension plan at Ayrshire village community hub

Man rushed to hospital as Edinburgh Sheriff Court closes after 'incident'

Explore Google's 'impossible' job interview brainteaser that stumped candidates

Schoolboy dies 'unexpectedly' after feeling unwell and being airlifted to hospital

Construction starts on new St Stephen’s Community Hub in Coatbridge

Nigel Farage to visit Scotland in first week of June ahead of crunch by-election

Shoppers rush to save £60 on Kindle Fire Tablet in high demand deal

NASA finds 'monster' black hole 600 million light-years away in 'scene out of a sci-fi movie'

Survivor gets justice as Barlinnie TV documentary brute is jailed for campaign of 'violent' domestic abuse

Exact date 850-mile wall of rain will batter Scotland as weather maps show downpour moving in

James Bond legend Joe Don Baker dies age 89 as family share statement

Chris Brown arrested at plush UK hotel over alleged bottle attack

Private nurseries in West Lothian warn over impact of national insurance rise

Public invited to come on down to 'Tunes in the Tunnel' fundraiser in Alloway this Sunday

Volunteers plea to help save Falkirk sports centre facing closure

Man plunges from top floor of Edinburgh's sheriff court before landing on marble floor

Amazon slashes 52% off 'brilliant' Samsung Tablet now only £80 in limited time deal

Young Stirling joker secures ticket to Holyrood after quip earns spot in final

Bank worker and brother who murdered drug dealer in 'ferocious' knife attack are jailed

Victim watchdog 'struggling to understand' prisoner recall policy change

Scottish Government spent nearly £374,000 in a legal battle over definition of woman

Swinney under fire over ‘£1bn SNP ferry fiasco’ as costs and delays mount

Scots urged to save water after driest start to year in decades

Highly-anticipated Global A380 flight takes off as crowds watch on at Glasgow Airport

Drug traffickers caught at Glasgow Airport before boarding flight to Amsterdam

Police statement ahead of Orange Walk and Celtic title party 'clash'

Wildfire erupts in Ayrshire town with people urged to avoid the area

Man who transformed the Millennium Dome pinpoints where next London arena could be

UK developing new ‘deep precision strike’ weapon with 1,242-mile range

Why did UK’s economy grow so fast at the start of 2025 and what does it mean?

Glasgow Airport team take on Kiltwalk to raise vital MND Scotland funds

Renfrewshire social worker warned after swearing at two vulnerable clients

Haul of jewellery stolen from two properties in Larkhall causing 'significant' damage

West Lothian teenager Jak's charity legacy celebrates 10-year anniversary

Mum left "close to death" after terrifying heart attack on cycle with kids

Why Scottish tap water is 'best in the world' to drink from geography to weather

Bella May Culley unanswered questions as mystery remains over 'Clyde' figure

SNP named 'solid' favourites to claim victory in Hamilton and Larkhall by-election

Ditch your old Fitbit or Apple Watch and Samsung will cut £165 off this Galaxy Watch

Games hall plans confirmed for new Larkhall Leisure Centre

Cops acting on drugs tip-off found plumber with £50k in car

New sighting of missing teen last seen on frightening doorbell footage

Family of drowned Bayesian yacht chef has 'serious concerns about failures'

Scots urged to take shorter showers and avoid using hoses

Letters: Stop tinkering around the edges: we need a National Care Service, now

Search continues for missing sailor off Scottish coast

Scots knitwear giant closes in on welcome return to Ayr High Street

Woman who stole £11k from her sick aunt told to repay money or face jail

Kilbryde Hospice to stage community roadshows across South Lanarkshire to hear local views

East Kilbride Expressway to close overnight for one week for resurfacing works

Scotland heading for driest spring in 40 years after 'less rain than Gran Canaria'