Dog owner? Follow these 7 tips to keep your pup safe in the heatwave – Women's Health UK

We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
The experts at the RSPCA want you to heed this super important advice
Like you know full well from the sweaty sleeps of the past nights, the UK is in the grip of a particularly intense heatwave. This is set to escalate. The Met Office has issued an Amber Extreme heat warning for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, with temperatures expected to hit over 35C in some parts of the country.
Heatwaves like this are becoming more extreme, frequent and life-threatening, as a result of human-made climate change.
Between your liberal application of factor 50, investment in a fan and near-constant water chugging, sure, you’ve got your methods of navigating the heat in place. But, if you’re the proud owner of a dog, there’s some extra precautions to heed, to protect your pupsicle from the rays, according to the experts at the RSPCA.
Taking such precautions is vital. When a dog’s inbuilt attempts to cool down (panting, seeking shade, jumping into water) fail to work, their body temperature will spike. At this stage, they can develop a heat-related illness. This can prove fatal.
Keen to avoid any scary incidents involving the sun and your fluffy family member? Scroll on for the charity’s guide for keeping your canine calm and cool.
According to advice released by the RSPCA, while the weather is this extreme, you should refrain from walking your four-legged baby during the hotter parts of the day. ‘We recommend walking your dog in the morning or evening when it’s cooler to reduce the risk of heatstroke and burning their paws on the pavement,’ goes the guidance.
Certain types of dogs, such as those with breathing issues, those with thick coats and unfit and overweight dogs are particularly at risk in the heat: be extra careful if your pal fits into one of these brackets.
The last thing they need is to get even hotter – doing this could seriously risk your pup suffering from a heat-related illness.
Even in the morning or evening, check the temperature of any pavement, before your pup walks on it. If it’s too hot for you to hold your hand down for more than a few seconds, it’s too hot for their paws.
Just like you need. Inside and out, ensure that your pup can find shade and always make sure that cold water is available for them to drink.
Yes, really. A pet-safe SPF on their ear tips and nose will prevent burning.
Brush your pup frequently. This can keep their coat thin, and so help to prevent overheating.
Popping one of their toys in the freezer before giving it to them or giving them access to a paddling pool are exciting ways to keep them cool.
In this sort of weather, even with precautions, it pays to understand what heatstroke looks like in a dog, so you can take action, if you need to.
According to the RSPCA, these are the questions to ask yourself.

Answer ‘yes’ to some of this selection, and know that your pup could be starting to get too hot. In that event, the best course of action, the charity says, is to stop them from moving, give them water and find shade to stay in. Wait for them to get back to normal, maintaining a close eye. If they get worse? Then they may well have heatstroke – which means it’s time to ramp things up.

source