Vet’s urgent warning to dog owners over the worst time of day to walk your pet in the summer… it could be deadly
A VET has issued an urgent warning over the worst time of day to walk your pets in summer.
Dr Linda Simon, of Pooch & Mutt, offered her top tips on how to keep furry friends safe during the hottest months of the year.
She revealed that walking animals at the wrong time of day can lead to a number of health risks, including heatstroke.
Dr Simon’s expert advice was to avoid walks during the hottest part of the day.
Instead, try talking your dog or cat out either early in the morning or just after sunset.
This helps prevent sunburn, heatstroke and burns to paw pads from hot pavements.
It is also crucial to be able to recognise the signs of heat exhaustion and dehydration, which can be fatal to pets.
Most common in dogs, especially larger animals with thick fur, symptoms include excessive panting, reddened gums, drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea and even seizures.
If you observe any of these in your pooch, seek the attention of a vet immediately.
Dr Simon also offered some handy hints on how to keep pets cool as temperatures climb.
Chilling or freezing their food, keeping up a good supply of water and making sure they always have a shaded area are all important measures.
Likewise, she recommended considering having dogs groomed before or as soon as the hot weather rolls in.
It comes after another vet revealed five hazards that could put your dog’s life in danger this summer.
Meanwhile, dog owners were given an urgent warning after four dogs died at a popular beauty spot.