Pet Tips for Hot Weather

Exercising dogs in hot weather can be particularly dangerous and even fatal!

With temperatures set to increase, we appealing to pet owners to keep their cats and dogs safely out of the sun. We’re particularly concerned about the number of dogs who are exercised in hot weather.

Depending on your dog’s breed, coat, age and whether they are flat faced, they may not tolerate warm weather. Dogs’ paw pads can also burn on hot pavements. As a rule, if it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for their paws.

While exercise is important for dogs, it is not necessary in extreme heat and all dogs should be kept indoors, in the shade during periods of very hot weather.

Pet Tips for Hot Weather

• Keep your pet indoors
• Ensure your pet has plenty of access to shade if outdoors
• Make sure there is plenty of fresh water available for your pet
• Take your pet for a walk very early morning or very late evening when the sun has gone down in cooler temperatures
• If your pet is older, overweight or brachycephalic (flat faced), take extra care on very hot days it may still be too warm early morning or late evening to take them out without risking heat stroke
• If your pet is brachycephalic take extra care that they don’t overheat in warm weather, it doesn’t need to be a very hot day for a brachycephalic pet to get heat stroke it out in the sun
• Make sure the pavement/ground surface you’re walking your dog on is not too hot for your pet – don’t forget they don’t wear shoes!
• Do play with your pet indoors and use interactive toys to keep them mentally stimulated
• Consider one of the frozen recipes here
• Never leave your pet in a car in hot weather in any situation

Heat stroke is extremely dangerous and in worst case situations can be life threatening!