Protecting pets against the heat
A Surrey-based vet offers advice on how to best look after your pets as temperatures are set to soar this week
As temperatures are set to soar into the 30s throughout the week, a Surrey vet has offered advice on how to look after your pets, as well as what signs to look out for to know when they are struggling.
Vanessa Waite is the head vet at The Vet Station in Molesey says there are clear signs that you can see to notice when a pet is struggling to cope with the heat. One of the main ones being if a dog starts smiling
"Stress signs in dogs are, and cats are often misinterpreted. So that smile with the corners of the mouth turning up, is actually a sign of stress, as is panting, as are wide eyes and one that's not picked up very often is yawning
Then their body posture will be different, they might Crouch, particularly with cats, those shoulders come up and they've got a crouching position. Or they might hide away from you and not interact as much."
Waite also says that car journeys can be one of the most dangerous things during the summer.
"Car journeys are really, really underestimated in the heat. If you get and sit inside a car until that air conditioning kicks in, it is boiling and you're not sitting there with a fur jacket on."
What pets are the most at risk
Not all pets are at the same risk however, Vanessa warned of two distinct types of pet that are more vulnerable to the heat compared to others.
"So you've got double coated pets. For example, I have myself an Akita. She's a big beast. She is so furry. She cannot handle this heat at all.
Then you've got your brachycephalic breeds. So brachycephalic breeds are those pets that have the shortened face, so French bulldogs, pugs, Persian cats.
Panting is the way that pets lose their heat so if they don't have a mouth, they're not going to be able to lose that heat. They're extremely, extremely susceptible to heat stroke"
"Heatstroke can kill a pet, missing a walk cannot"
Across all of south-east England temperatures are set to soar this week and be particularly high during midday and the early afternoon.
However Vanessa warns that it's important to be checking the temperature at any time you want to take a pet on a walk.
"We know midday is the worst time and we know to avoid walks then. But actually pay attention to the temperature because it can be in the 20s from early in the morning to late in the evening.
If that's the case, you don't walk your pet, they will be fine. There's that saying, heatstroke can kill a pet, missing a walk cannot."
Waite ended by saying that as soon as you notice signs of heatstroke in your pet, seek medical help immediately
"Heat stroke is serious, it is an emergency and you can lose your pet, so you must seek veterinary attention immediately.
Don't wait a couple of hours to see if your pet will cool down and be fine. Call us, and we will tell you, because if you wait, we're losing a crucial period of time where we can be treating your pet"