Five ways to keep your pet cool in heatwave – including 7-second test

With high temperatures still spreading across the UK, vets and animal charities have shared top tips to protect your pet dog this week. As the furry animals struggle to cope with the heat, it’s vital to keep an eye on them during this kind of weather.

Because dogs can’t sweat like humans do, they rely on panting to cool down, which means they can overheat quickly. From when to walk them to signs of heatstroke, here are five ways to keep your pet cool this week.

Experts say that deciding when to walk your dog is incredibly important. The RSPCA recommends walking dogs in the morning or evening, when it is cooler, to reduce the risk of heatstroke for your fluffy animals. This also helps prevent their paws from burning on the hot pavement.

Pet owners can do the ‘seven-second test’ to determine whether it’s fine to take their dog out or not. All you have to do is rest the back of your hand on the pavement for seven seconds and determine if it’s too hot for you. If it is, this means it will be too hot for your dog’s paws, too.

An expert reminded dog owners that walks are not absolutely vital in times like these. Senior dog warden Pip Singleton said, “Your dog will not die with one less walk; however, heatstroke to dogs can be fatal.”

Keeping dogs cool indoors matters just as much as the walk. The Blue Cross says the most basic essential is making sure dogs have access to clean, fresh water, ideally in a large bowl filled to the brim, at all times.

Dogs really benefit from shade and well-ventilated areas, too, out of direct sunlight.

Dog owners can provide extra comfort by offering a damp towel to lie on or a fan, along with ice cubes in their water to cool down their body temperature.

A skill like this could save your dog’s life. The PDSA lists the signs to watch for as excessive panting, confusion, bright red gums, foaming at the mouth, vomiting, diarrhoea, collapse, or seizures.

Sadly, this can come on quickly, for example, during exercise. Experts say that if your pet seems to be struggling, you should immediately stop and get them somewhere cool.

The Kennel Club warns dog owners the way they react within the first few minutes of a dog’s heatstroke could change everything. With one in seven dogs dying from the condition, they have the best chance of surviving if someone cools them down immediately and takes them to a vet as soon as possible.

Experts say to move your dog somewhere cool and douse them in cold water – straight from a cold tap is fine. The faster you cool them, the better their chances. It is best to contact the vets immediately and keep your pet cool on your journey there.

Experts warn that surfaces heat up rapidly. On a day where it’s 25C outside, the Tarmac can reach a shocking 52C, climbing to 62C if temperatures outside rise even further.

With a dog’s paw pads burning at about 52C in as little as a minute, it’s vital that dog owners remain aware of this.

Surprisingly, artificial grass is one of the most dangerous outdoor materials. According to researchers, artificial grass can get as high as 79C in the height of summer sun.

This is even hotter than natural grass and definitely hot enough to burn your dog’s paws.

Luke Clarke, spokesperson for natural stone experts Britannia Stone said: “The good news is most of us already have the better material underfoot, because a stone or paved patio doesn’t get anywhere near as hot as artificial grass.

“Plastic-based surfaces like artificial turf soak up the sun and can become scorching, whereas natural stone copes with the heat far better.”

But he warned that everyone should still be very careful. “That said, no surface is completely safe at the peak of a heatwave, so on the hottest days I would recommend simply watering your patio down around midday. A quick hose-over brings the surface temperature right back down and keeps it comfortable for your dog’s paws.

“And it never hurts to do the seven-second hand test first: if it is too hot for your hand, it is too hot for them.”