Wiltshire dog owners urged to keep dogs cool in warm weekend weather
Dogs are at risk of heat stroke even in mild, early summer warmth
Dog owners in Wiltshire are being urged to keep their dogs cool this weekend as temperatures are set to rise.
With the weather set fair for the weekend, the Dogs Trust in Salisbury are warning that even early summer warmth is enough to cause our four-legged friends problems.
They're urging owners to be responsible with when they take their dogs out for exercise as it can lead to severe health issues, including heat stroke.
Charlie Dobson is a vet with the animal charity, and told us why dogs are so at risk heat related illnesses.
She said: "Dogs are quite at risk of this because they can't cool down that we can. They don't sweat, they can only really pant as their main source of losing heat."
Exercise is the main trigger for dogs becoming unwell due to the heat, as they're not very good at self-regulating, meaning they'll continue to play even if they're hot and tired.
Charlie explained the most common symptoms of heat stress: "They get quite lethargic and you might even notice that, once you get home, they're sort of looking a bit tired and drowsy.
"They'll keep panting continuously, and they'll almost smile because their mouth is so wide because, they're trying to cool and lose as much heat as possible.
"Their tongue will hang out of their mouth, and they'll often look quite squinty in the eyes because they're really trying to cool down."
Dog breeds with flat faces, such as pugs and bulldog breeds, will struggle more to cool themselves down.
Owners urged to prepare interventions
Charlie warned that not intervening to cool our dogs down when they're too hot can lead to seizures, collapses and even fatal organ failures.
She's urging owners to be prepared ahead of the warm weather, advising to walk dogs during the coolest parts of the day (early morning/late evening).
The charity's issued the following advice for dealing with heat stroke for dogs.
• Act immediately to prevent your dog’s condition getting worse.
• Cool first, transport second.
• Stop them from playing, walking or whatever activity they’re doing and move the dog to a shaded and cool area
• Start cooling them down urgently. For young, conscious, healthy dogs, this means immersing them in cold water, for example in a paddling pool if possible, keeping their head above water. Use any water available, provided it is cooler than your dog. If immersion is not possible, continuous dousing with cold water is an alternative.
• For older dogs or dogs with health conditions, spray them with room temperature water, avoiding their face, and combine with air movement from a breeze, fan or air conditioning. Place ice, wrapped in a tea towel to prevent ice burns, in their groin and armpits.
• Always closely monitor cooling and stop if you notice signs of shivering
• Don’t place a wet towel over them as this can raise their temperature.
• Call your vet urgently for further advice and transport them there as quickly as is safely possible. Keep the air conditioning on in the car or the windows open.
• If your dog has collapsed or is struggling to breathe, call your nearest vet immediately.