At Village Vet Hampstead, we’d like to offer some advice to owners on keeping their animals safe and comfortable.
We advise against taking pets outside on hot days, instead it is best to ensure they have plenty of fresh water and cool areas to stay in.
We know dog owners are very aware of walking their pets in the heat, but if there is any doubt, it’s safer to take dogs outside either early in the morning or in the evening, rather than the middle of the day when temperatures are highest.
It is important to avoid leaving dogs in cars during the hot weather.
Even with a window left open, temperatures inside a vehicle can reach up to 50C within minutes, posing a significant risk of heatstroke or dehydration.
If you are worried your dog has been affected by the heat, please contact your local vet straight away.
Signs of heatstroke can include excessive panting and heaving flanks, which aids heat loss, as dogs can only sweat through their pads.
If a dog shows signs of heat exhaustion, you should immediately find shade and cool them down by pouring, hosing or immersing your pet with cold water, then call your vet straight away.
Cooling down your dog before taking them to the vet can really help your pet in this situation.
We also advise to keep pets indoors or sheltered in cool areas when temperatures are high, usually between 11am and 3pm.
However, if pets enjoy basking under blue skies, a splash of sun cream can help protect vulnerable animals.
It’s crucial to ensure the sun cream is suitable for animals, as many products contain toxic ingredients if your pet licks it off.
Many animals can be susceptible to sunburn and even skin cancer, so it’s important to protect areas such as the ears, nose, lips, eyelids and tummy, which often have little to no hair on them and are very much at risk.
Pets with light skin and short, or thin, hair, such as white dogs and cats, are more susceptible to developing skin cancer, especially if they spend a lot of time outdoors.
However, animals with hair can also suffer from the effects of the sun.
Remember you can always discuss any questions or concerns with your vet, and they will be happy to help.
Village Vet provides exceptional veterinary care thanks to an expert team working within state-of-the-art facilities.
For more information, visit https://villagevet.co.uk.
- Oliver Liebster is a vet at Linnaeus-owned Village Vet’s Hampstead practice
