Dog owners should make sure their canine companions can stay safe during the current forecast heat wave and lockdown.
Dogs Trust welfare charity, advises owners how to keep pets cool – indoors and outdoors – and prevent them from overheating on hot days.
- Avoid walking or activities indoors or outdoors at the hottest times of the day, so early morning or later in the evening is best.
- Always take plenty of water when out with your dogs and ensure they have access to fresh water at home at all times.
- Tarmac gets hot in the sun – check with your hand before letting your dog walk on it so they don’t burn their paws. Try the ‘seven-second test’ – if it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws
- If you need to take your dog out in the car, even if travelling a short distance, avoid the hottest times of the day and never leave your dog in a car on a warm day, not even with the window open.
Having fun with your dog indoors can be just as stimulating as a long walk, the trust says, but owners must still make sure their dogs stay cool indoors too. Choosing the coolest room in the house, staying out of direct sunlight, always having fresh water available and making sure your dog has somewhere cool to relax and sleep.
