The 6 ways to keep your dog safe in hot weather – and 4 things to never do

'All animals are at risk', Do: 1) Know the signs of heatstroke, Do: 2) Recognise your dog’s risk level, Do: 3) Plan your walks around cooler times of day, Do: 4) Provide shade and water, Do: 5) Provide damp towels, Do: 6) Have fun with treats, Don’t: 1) Leave your dog in the car, Don’t: 2) Forget flystrike, Don’t: 3) Ignore other people’s dogs, Don’t: 4) Unnerve your dog

Summer can be a great time for dogs, from enjoying exciting holidays to welcoming new people into their garden. But it’s also a time to be very careful as a dog owner – especially as the Met Office reports that parts of the UK may hit temperatures of over 30°C this weekend (June 21-22). Lauren Bennett, RSPCA scientific and policy officer and dog welfare expert, warns: “Temperatures are rising and we all want everyone’s pets to be as safe and comfortable as possible. We’re encouraging owners to do some ‘pet homework’ - and do as much as they can in the heat to keep their animals safe. If more of us can start taking a few steps to reduce the risk to our pets, hopefully fewer dogs will suffer.” (Photo: Ian Forsyth/Getty)

'All animals are at risk'

'All animals are at risk', Do: 1) Know the signs of heatstroke, Do: 2) Recognise your dog’s risk level, Do: 3) Plan your walks around cooler times of day, Do: 4) Provide shade and water, Do: 5) Provide damp towels, Do: 6) Have fun with treats, Don’t: 1) Leave your dog in the car, Don’t: 2) Forget flystrike, Don’t: 3) Ignore other people’s dogs, Don’t: 4) Unnerve your dog

There is the obvious advice – avoid outings in midday heat, don’t put your dog in a hot car and keep water bowls topped up. But it’s also important to know things like the signs of heatstroke and which dogs are most at risk. Lauren adds: “No matter your dog’s breed or how much they appear to enjoy basking in the sunshine, all animals are at risk. Taking the time now to identify how you can reduce your dog’s risk, could just save their life.” So bear in mind the following pieces of advice when you’re looking after your dog this summer. Some are just nice things to keep your pet cool, while others are vital for their health. Further tips, health advice and workshops can be found on websites including the RSPCA, Kennel Club and PDSA. (Photo: Yui Mok/PA)

Do: 1) Know the signs of heatstroke

'All animals are at risk', Do: 1) Know the signs of heatstroke, Do: 2) Recognise your dog’s risk level, Do: 3) Plan your walks around cooler times of day, Do: 4) Provide shade and water, Do: 5) Provide damp towels, Do: 6) Have fun with treats, Don’t: 1) Leave your dog in the car, Don’t: 2) Forget flystrike, Don’t: 3) Ignore other people’s dogs, Don’t: 4) Unnerve your dog

Charlotte McNamara is head of health and breeder development at The Kennel Club. “In hot weather, dogs are far more vulnerable than people realise. Unlike humans, they can't sweat to cool down and rely on panting, which is far less effective," she says."This puts them at serious risk of heatstroke, a condition that tragically proves fatal for around one in seven affected dogs. We urge all owners to know the signs of heatstroke, such as excessive panting, lethargy, confusion, dribbling and vomiting – and act quickly by cooling their dog down and contacting a vet.” The Kennel Club also identifies diarrhoea, or in worst cases collapsing, as symptoms of heatstroke. (Photo: Daniel Leal/AFP via Getty)

Do: 2) Recognise your dog’s risk level

'All animals are at risk', Do: 1) Know the signs of heatstroke, Do: 2) Recognise your dog’s risk level, Do: 3) Plan your walks around cooler times of day, Do: 4) Provide shade and water, Do: 5) Provide damp towels, Do: 6) Have fun with treats, Don’t: 1) Leave your dog in the car, Don’t: 2) Forget flystrike, Don’t: 3) Ignore other people’s dogs, Don’t: 4) Unnerve your dog

All dogs can overheat, but there are some at higher risk. The Kennel Club identifies the worst affected as the very old, those with health conditions or thick coats and some (often flat-faced) breeds. Nottingham Trent University research says the breeds worst affected include the Chow Chow, Bulldog, French Bulldog, Dogue de Bordeaux, Greyhound, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Pug, Golden Retriever and Springer Spaniel. (Photo: CandyRetriever/iStockphoto/Getty)

Do: 3) Plan your walks around cooler times of day

'All animals are at risk', Do: 1) Know the signs of heatstroke, Do: 2) Recognise your dog’s risk level, Do: 3) Plan your walks around cooler times of day, Do: 4) Provide shade and water, Do: 5) Provide damp towels, Do: 6) Have fun with treats, Don’t: 1) Leave your dog in the car, Don’t: 2) Forget flystrike, Don’t: 3) Ignore other people’s dogs, Don’t: 4) Unnerve your dog

The Kennel Club warns that overexercising on hot days causes 75% of cases of dog heatstroke. Dogs may be creatures of habit, but a forecast hot day is a perfect chance to change the time of walks or other outings to avoid midday heat. Watch for terrain too – pavement harms paws more than grass or streams. (Photo: Gary Hershorn/Getty/Corbis News)

Do: 4) Provide shade and water

'All animals are at risk', Do: 1) Know the signs of heatstroke, Do: 2) Recognise your dog’s risk level, Do: 3) Plan your walks around cooler times of day, Do: 4) Provide shade and water, Do: 5) Provide damp towels, Do: 6) Have fun with treats, Don’t: 1) Leave your dog in the car, Don’t: 2) Forget flystrike, Don’t: 3) Ignore other people’s dogs, Don’t: 4) Unnerve your dog

If you’re staying at home, keep your dog’s water bowl topped up and reduce their time in direct sunshine. And if you have to take them outside, plan in advance – where you’re taking them, are dogs allowed and are there cool, shady spots? The RSPCA advises to pack a portable water dispenser and offer your dog water every 15-20 minutes, although forcing them to drink water while they’re panting heavily can cause bloating and vomiting. (Photo: Sally Anscombe/Getty/Digital Vision)

Do: 5) Provide damp towels

'All animals are at risk', Do: 1) Know the signs of heatstroke, Do: 2) Recognise your dog’s risk level, Do: 3) Plan your walks around cooler times of day, Do: 4) Provide shade and water, Do: 5) Provide damp towels, Do: 6) Have fun with treats, Don’t: 1) Leave your dog in the car, Don’t: 2) Forget flystrike, Don’t: 3) Ignore other people’s dogs, Don’t: 4) Unnerve your dog

Dog towels aren’t just for drying – a damp towel, or ice pack wrapped in a towel, can be a great place for them to lie to stay cool. Under is better than over, though - the RSPCA warns that placing a damp towel on top of your dog can trap heat. (Photo: Joxxxjo/iStockphoto/Getty)

Do: 6) Have fun with treats

'All animals are at risk', Do: 1) Know the signs of heatstroke, Do: 2) Recognise your dog’s risk level, Do: 3) Plan your walks around cooler times of day, Do: 4) Provide shade and water, Do: 5) Provide damp towels, Do: 6) Have fun with treats, Don’t: 1) Leave your dog in the car, Don’t: 2) Forget flystrike, Don’t: 3) Ignore other people’s dogs, Don’t: 4) Unnerve your dog

While keeping your dog cool is a serious matter, it can also be fun for them. Puzzle feeders and Kong toys can be used for frozen treats and you can use ice cubes in their water bowl or as standalone treats. (Photo: Ian Carroll/Getty)

Don’t: 1) Leave your dog in the car

'All animals are at risk', Do: 1) Know the signs of heatstroke, Do: 2) Recognise your dog’s risk level, Do: 3) Plan your walks around cooler times of day, Do: 4) Provide shade and water, Do: 5) Provide damp towels, Do: 6) Have fun with treats, Don’t: 1) Leave your dog in the car, Don’t: 2) Forget flystrike, Don’t: 3) Ignore other people’s dogs, Don’t: 4) Unnerve your dog

It’s well-known, but still happens too often. The PDSA warns that ‘not long is too long’ when it comes to dogs in hot cars, and you still can’t fully reduce the risk if you park in shade or leave the windows open a little bit - both are potentially harmful. Lauren says: “We want to see owners understanding the danger of leaving their pet in a hot car, and never taking this risk with their dog’s lives. Sadly, while vets are seeing a surge in cases, some police forces have also reported an increase in officers attending calls about dogs in hot cars. This can’t continue.” (Photo: Getty/iStockphoto)

Don’t: 2) Forget flystrike

'All animals are at risk', Do: 1) Know the signs of heatstroke, Do: 2) Recognise your dog’s risk level, Do: 3) Plan your walks around cooler times of day, Do: 4) Provide shade and water, Do: 5) Provide damp towels, Do: 6) Have fun with treats, Don’t: 1) Leave your dog in the car, Don’t: 2) Forget flystrike, Don’t: 3) Ignore other people’s dogs, Don’t: 4) Unnerve your dog

Flystrike is a nasty condition more prominent in hot weather where flies lay their eggs on another animal, which hatch into flesh-eating maggots. Check your dog, especially around the tail, for any signs, such as red, raised sores, matted fur, or a foul smell, especially around wounds or soiled areas.

Don’t: 3) Ignore other people’s dogs

'All animals are at risk', Do: 1) Know the signs of heatstroke, Do: 2) Recognise your dog’s risk level, Do: 3) Plan your walks around cooler times of day, Do: 4) Provide shade and water, Do: 5) Provide damp towels, Do: 6) Have fun with treats, Don’t: 1) Leave your dog in the car, Don’t: 2) Forget flystrike, Don’t: 3) Ignore other people’s dogs, Don’t: 4) Unnerve your dog

The PDSA warns that if you see a dog in a hot car and it looks okay, try and find the owner or take note of the registration number, and if the dog shows signs of heat stroke, call the police. Only if the situation is critical enough to warrant breaking a window to rescue the dog, tell the police that’s what you will do first and take photos to justify it – it could be classed as criminal damage without proper justification. (Photo: Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty)

Don’t: 4) Unnerve your dog

'All animals are at risk', Do: 1) Know the signs of heatstroke, Do: 2) Recognise your dog’s risk level, Do: 3) Plan your walks around cooler times of day, Do: 4) Provide shade and water, Do: 5) Provide damp towels, Do: 6) Have fun with treats, Don’t: 1) Leave your dog in the car, Don’t: 2) Forget flystrike, Don’t: 3) Ignore other people’s dogs, Don’t: 4) Unnerve your dog

Be sensitive even when cooling them down. Make sure you keep your dog cool in a way that doesn’t unnerve them - don’t force them into a paddling pool or in the direction of a hose if it frightens them. (Photo: Hugh R Hastings/Getty)

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