Warning to dog owners as hot weather sets in
The temperatures we're expected to see over the coming weeks could seriously affect your furry friends
Dog owners across Harrogate and the Yorkshire Dales are being told to take extra care of their dogs now that the weather is getting warmer.
It's as temperatures across the district reached 29 degrees over the weekend and with the hot weather expected to stay, walking a dog in that heat could have serious consequences.
Jonathan Mills, vet at Knaresborough's Forest House, told Greatest Hits the heat can be "catastrophic" for a dog.
He said: "Dogs can only regulate their heat by panting. They can't sweat like humans and other animals so that has a limited capacity.
"If the amount of heat they're generating from the surroundings or movement is building up faster than they can regulate it, it can be catastrophic if their body temperature gets too high.
"One of the worst things a dog owner can do is give them chilled water. Very cold drinking water as if goes down the throat can actually cool the blood and trick the body into thinking it has cooled down and doesn't need to lose anymore heat so it's better to give room temperature water.
"It's best to go out at the cooler times of the day so early morning or late evenings when the sun is at its lowest. Go where there are grassy areas and not a lot of hard ground or tarmac and if you dog likes water and splashing around go somewhere where there's a large body of water to enjoy."
Dogs succumb to heatstroke so easily as unlike humans, dogs can't sweat through their skin and so they rely on panting and releasing heat through their paw pads and nose to regulate their body temperature and keep cool.
Signs of heatstroke in dogs include collapse, excessive panting, and dribbling.
If you suspect your pet is suffering from the condition, move them to a cool place, preferably with a draught, wet their coat with cool - not freezing - water, and contact your vet immediately.
If you see a dog in distress inside a car, official advice is to dial 999 immediately and ask for the police. A dog in distress in a hot car is an emergency and the police will advise you what to do based on the situation.