Just this month the Met Office confirmed the hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures reaching 29.3'C in London.
While the summer months are perfect for enjoying outdoor activities with our pets, it’s important to remember that just like us, dogs are at risk of suffering from heat-related illnesses like dehydration, exhaustion and heatstroke. They also feel the heat from the roads and paths on their paws.
But on days when the weather gets warmer than usual, you might be wondering how hot is too hot for a dog to be outdoors. So to help we have put together a quick guide to keep pups safe.
Pavements can get VERY hot
While dog pads are pretty hardy and cope with a lot, they can be burnt by very hot pavements, especially if walking along them for long durations
Not only this, but the pavement will also radiate heat which it’s been absorbing throughout the day. This means it could still be very hot towards the end of the afternoon, even if it feels cool enough for your dog to stand on, they will feel a lot of heat coming off the surface and onto their body
There is a quick test that can be done
Avoiding Heatstroke in Dogs
Warning signs of heatstroke include:
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Heavy panting
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Excessive drooling
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Dog appears lethargic, drowsy or uncoordinated
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Collapsed or vomiting
If you suspect your dog has heatstroke, take them to the nearest emergency vet immediately.
Cars
We’ve all heard it a million times “dogs die in hot cars”, this is a huge risk in hot weather but even on cooler, sunny days, a car will heat up quickly.
Never take a chance with leaving your dog in the car on a hot or sunny day, even with the windows open, the car will soon turn into an oven.
It’s never worth the risk!
In summary by thinking about the weather and dog safety the risk can be reduced and the nice weather can still be enjoyed
