13/08/2025
☀️HEATSTROKE☀️
⚠️🦮Please be careful taking your dog for a walk in this heat.
⛔️❗️Even a ‘quick’ walk can be too much!
🖐🏻Remember hot pavements can burn paws! If it’s too hot to hold your hand down on, it’s too hot for your pet!
🐾📞If you are concerned your pet might have heat stroke please do not delay and phone your veterinary practice ASAP for professional advice.
🐶DOGS🐶
☀️Make sure they have access to the shade if outdoors, ideally keep them inside.
☀️Have access to cool fresh water throughout the day.
☀️NEVER leave your dog in a car
☀️Use cool mats, fans, wet towels for your pet to lie on.
☀️Use pet safe suncream on exposed parts of your pets skin (tips of ears and nose). Especially if your pet has white/light coloured fur.
☀️Be careful if you have artificial grass, this can cause burns to your pets feet
🐱CATS🐱
☀️Offer them cool water and replenish frequently
☀️Ensure your cats do not get trapped in sheds, conservatory’s, garages or green houses
☀️Keep them indoors where possible, in a cool ventilated room.
🐰SMALL FURRIES🐹
☀️Ensure to keep their enclosure out of direct sunlight. Move the accommodation into an area that has plenty of shade and air circulation.
☀️Offer them marble/slate/tiles/concrete slabs to lay on. You can refrigerate these and they make great cool spots for them to sit on. Cool mats work too- however make sure they don’t get nibbled!
☀️Offer them fresh cool water to drink, and replenish regularly.
☀️Wrap a frozen bottle in a tea towel and place it in their pen, it may help to reduce the air temperature
☀️Try not to handle them/fuss them too much.
☀️Please be vigilant for cases of flystrike in your rabbits.
🦔WILDLIFE🐝
Spare a thought for wild animals. Keep bowls of water out for wildlife such as birds and hedgehogs!
Signs of heatstroke:
🥵Panting excessively
🥵Breathing difficulties
🥵Excessively salivation/drooling
🥵Vomiting (dogs & cats)
🥵Restlessness
🥵Collapse
🥵Seizures
🥵Red gums
❗️ALL animals are at risk of heatstroke, although some more than others. These include:
🐾Brachycephalic breeds (Pugs, Shih Tzu, French Bulldogs etc)
🐾Puppies
🐾Geriatric dogs
🐾Overweight dogs
🐾Dogs with thick coats
🐾Animals with underlying health conditions
🌡If you suspect your dog is showing signs of heatstroke⬇️
DO
✅Move your dog to a cool/shaded area.
✅ Gently use COOL not cold water over their body.
✅Offer them small amounts of water to drink
✅Call your vets immediately if you suspect your pet is suffering from heatstroke
DON’T
⛔️Do not cover their body with a wet towel, this will trap the heat in.
⛔️Do not force your pet to drink, as this may lead to them aspirating, and this can cause aspiration pneumonia.
⛔️Do not use COLD/ICE water, this can cool your pet down too rapidly leading to shock.
For further information please click the links below🔍
RSPCA➡️ https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/health/heatstroke
RVC➡️ https://www.rvc.ac.uk/small-animal-vet/teaching-and-research/fact-files/heatstroke-in-dogs-and-cats
PDSA➡️ https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/pet-health-hub/conditions/heatstroke-in-dogs
