Herefordshire and Worcestershire dog owners urged to take extra care of pets as warmer weather arrives
Dogs Trust say even early summer temperatures can cause issues
Dog owners across Herefordshire and Worcestershire are being warned to take extra care of their dogs as the warmer weather arrives.
Dogs Trust Evesham say even early summer temperatures can cause heatstroke, and people should take extra care when exercising their pet and going on walks.
Charlie Dobson is a vet for the charity, and says it's important owners watch out for any potential warning signs.
She said: "Heatstroke is something that can actually affect dogs any time of year, but as the temperatures outside start to rise, dogs become a lot more at risk, and heatstroke can be really scary and fatal in some cases.
"Dogs can't cool down like humans can, they can't sweat, so they're relying on panting and using shade and their environment to keep cool, and we as their owners need to be aware of this.
"The earliest signs of heatstroke in dogs is that you tend to start to see them really panting and getting quite lethargic, so if people can be aware of those early signs, then hopefully we can prevent it progressing to that more fatal stage."
Further ways of keeping your dog safe are on the Dogs Trust website.