Suffolk pet owners urged to protect furry friends from high temperatures
The Blue Cross is advising to look after pets within the home as much as outdoors, where the risk of overheating remains high
With a yellow heat health alert still in place in Suffolk, pet owners in the county are being urged to take extra precautions to ensure their animals remain safe and comfortable in the heat.
While the generic advice of avoiding the hot hours of the day to walk your dog and not leaving pets in vehicles remains, the Blue Cross, which has a rehoming centre in Wherstead, Ipswich, is urging owners to take on simple steps at home to ensure the welfare of animals.
Kelly Brooks, who works for the charity, said: "We’re lucky enough now to have apps that tell us what the temperature is going to be. It’s all about thinking about the type of pet you have, the facilities you’ve got, and what the risks might be."
"Just don’t walk your dog in the heat, there’s no need to walk your dog when it puts them at so much risk. You can walk them when the temperature is lower, or if you can’t, just don’t walk them for the day."
"If you touch the floor, that floor is hot. So can you imagine how that feels to dogs? And it's the heatstroke element where it can be fatal within a couple of hours."
The risks of heatstroke is particularly high for certain breeds, especially those with short noses.
It can therefore be vital for some dogs to receive targeted care, outdoors and indoors.
Ms Brooks said: "You can get cooling mats for your pets, cooling coats for dogs, or freeze plastic bottles of water and put them near where your pets lie to help keep them cool."
"For smaller pets like guinea pigs and rabbits, ensuring they have plenty of shade and fresh water is crucial. Think about where their hutch is, and make sure it’s covered throughout the day as the sun moves."
For certain pets, like cats, Ms Brooks advised to add a few ice cubes to their bowl of water, as well as opening windows if it is safe to do so.