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THE UK’s largest animal welfare charity is urging dog owners to take the unusual step of keeping their pet at home for the next two days.
The RSPCA is recommending a ‘dog lockdown’ as red weather warnings hit England and Wales
It is calling for an immediate routine change for dog owners during the next 48 hours – as a red weather warning remains in place for heat across England and Wales.
Its welfare experts are recommending a ‘dog lockdown’ for the next two days amid the red weather warnings – to safeguard pets by keeping them indoors and away from the extreme heat.
The call comes as the Met Office has warned the peak of the current heatwave is forecast for today and tomorrow (Weds and Thurs), with temperatures potentially climbing to 39°C (102°F) or more.
Lauren Bennet, dog welfare expert at the RSPCA and a former veterinary nurse, said: “During a red weather warning, dog owners should think of it like a temporary lockdown for their pets.
“For the next 24 to 48 hours, routines need to immediately change.
“This isn’t the time for walks, chasing the ball or playing fetch, or exposing pooches to energetic exercise.
“It’s far better for dogs to miss a few walks completely than to suffer the potentially fatal consequences of overheating, or heatstroke.
“One of the biggest risks during periods of extreme heat is treating them like any other summer day.
“We’re urging dog owners to focus on keeping dogs cool, comfortable and calm at home until temperatures start to ease.
“Fresh water, air flow, shade and mental enrichment can make all the difference during this intense period of extreme heat.”
In high temperatures dogs can be more irritable or frustrated, so owners are advised to keep an eye on their pet’s body language and to give them space, allowing them to keep cool on their own terms.
The charity says owners should be ready to change their normal routines and prioritise keeping pets cool, calm and comfortable until temperatures ease, and offers these five tips:
Move exercise to the coolest possible times – or skip it altogether
Swap physical exercise for mental stimulation
Create cool zones throughout the home
Refresh water regularly and offer it in multiple locations
Keep air moving
Lauren added: “These temperatures won’t last forever, but the decisions owners make over the next couple of days could have a lasting impact on their pets.
“For now, the message is simple: pause normal routines, prioritise keeping pets cool and comfortable, and wait until temperatures ease before returning to business as usual.”
The charity reminds dog owners to be aware of the signs of heatstroke in dogs, which can be a ‘silent killer’ if not prevented, or treated immediately.
Heatstroke signs include:
Collapse, confusion or disorientation, dehydration (dry nose, sunken eyes, heavy panting, infrequent urination, and tiredness), and drooling (more frequent, thicker, stickier).
Owners may also notice increased heart rate (to check, place a hand on the animal’s chest, just behind the front leg elbow), muscle spasms, shivering despite high temperatures, noisy breathing, panting, red gums and tongue, and seizures (loss of consciousness).
Dogs suffering from heatstroke may also present with vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness and lethargy.
To treat heatstroke:
Owners should immediately stop further heating (stop the animal’s activity, remove it from a hot car or building, and out of the sun).
Cool the animal by pouring cool water over its neck, stomach and thighs (not the head).
Submerge them in cool water, stream or paddling pool (except if unconscious, elderly, or with health conditions – in these cases spray with room temperature water instead).
Fan the animal, and once cool, take them to a vet.
People are urged to remember:
Cool first, then transport to a veterinarian.
The longer the animal suffers heat, the greater the damage, so cooling them immediately improves their recovery.
For information, visit: rspca.org.uk
