Vet details nine indicators of heatstroke in dogs during warm weather as temperatures rise across UK

Dog owners are being warned to look out for signs of heatstroke in their pets as temperatures rise across the UK.

After weeks of wet and windy weather, the UK is finally seeing some sunshine. But while for humans basking in the sunshine may be enjoyable, heat can be much harder to bear for dogs.

So it's important to consider their individual needs in order to keep them as cool and comfortable as possible, experts say. Sean McCormack, head vet at Tails.com, has shared some guidance on keeping your dog cool during warm weather, as well as some signs of heatstroke to look out for that may indicate a problem. If your pet is displaying the following symptoms, take them to a vet.

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Signs your dog may have heatstroke

• Excessive panting
• Rapid or laboured breathing
• Excessive thirst
• Lying on their side
• Lethargy
• Seeming unresponsive or quiet
• Seeming agitated or stressed
• Vomiting
• Lack of coordination

How to help your dog in warm weather

Avoid walking your dog during the warmest part of the day

During periods of high temperatures, paved surfaces can get extremely hot, and become incredibly dangerous to our dogs, possibly resulting in scorched paws. It's important that dog owners avoid walking their furry friends during the hottest points of the day.

Instead, you could try going early in the morning or late at night to avoid the hot weather. If you are ever unsure whether it's safe, do the palm test - hold your palm to the ground and if you cannot comfortably hold it in place for more than 7 seconds, it’s too hot for your dog to walk on.

Keep your dog hydrated

Whether you're out and about or at home attempting to keep cool from the sun, one of the key ways you can help your dog beat the heatwave is to make sure they stay hydrated. Ensure they have access to fresh water at all times, and fill up their bowl whenever it starts looking low. If you do head out on a walk while the weather is warm, it is also important to bring travel bowls or doggy drinking bottles, for a refreshing drink on the go.

Feed them little and often

You may notice that when the weather is warm, your dog displays signs of a decreased appetite, especially if they are spending more time indoors, or taking part in shorter walks or activities preventing them from building up an appetite. It is therefore worth considering feeding them little and often so they still get all the nutrition they need, but at a pace that suits them.

Consider frozen treats

Like humans, when the weather is warm, one of the easiest ways to cool your dog down and stay hydrated is with a delicious frozen treat. Though dogs can’t eat ice cream, a great alternative could be cutting up some bananas and freezing them, or adding your dog's favourite treat to a lick mat. You could even whip up your dog some frozen ice lollies, by freezing some of their favourite kibble in water in an ice cube tray.

Set up a paddling pool

For a complete and easy cool down, try setting up a paddling pool for your dog in your back garden for them to splash around in. Make sure however, there is plenty of room for them to relax if you don’t want to end up soaked yourself. If your dog prefers to stay inside, you could close the curtains and set up a fan out of the heat, for the ultimate chill den.

Keep them out of the car

When the weather reaches temperatures anywhere above 20 degrees, make sure to keep your dog out of the car. Not only can leaving your dog in the car be fatal, they can begin to experience heatstroke in as little as 15 minutes. This is because cars act like greenhouses, trap heat, and get much hotter inside than out. So if you’re planning to go somewhere by car on a hot day it is always best to leave your dog at home.