Vets have issued an emergency warning to dog owners, cautioning that temperatures above 20C could put your dog at risk of heatstroke.
With temperatures predicted to rise above 30C in parts of the UK this week, including London and the South East – the UK’s leading emergency pet emergency service, Vets Now, has issued a plea to dog owners to take extra precautions.
Vets Now clinics up and down the country are braced to see an influx in heatstroke admissions as our pets grapple with rising temperatures. Top tips to keep pet safe include avoiding exercising pets during the hottest part of the day to avoid emergencies.
Vets are urging extra care be taken, given the average survival rate of a dog diagnosed with heat stroke is only 50%, and can be fatal in as little as 15 minutes.
Heatstroke in pets is an illness which occurs when dogs are no longer able to self-regulate and keep their body temperature down.
New research conducted by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in collaboration with Vets Now has found that dogs with heatstroke may be suffering even further due to “outdated first aid practices”, leading researchers to call for updated guidance to be promoted more widely for dogs with heatstroke.
This new research calls for first aid advice to be updated to the current best practice veterinary guidelines which recommend pet owners to “cool first, transport second” as the immediate first aid response for dogs with heatstroke.
Dave Leicester, an emergency vet, who looks after a team of experienced video vets at Vets Now, said:“Every summer, we’re inundated with calls about dogs suffering heatstroke during hot spells. Heavy panting and breathing difficulties are among the main early signs of heatstroke, which is life-threatening if left untreated.”
“While dogs need regular exercise, their health and welfare is our greatest concern and during hot spells such as the one coming in the next couple of days, we would urge owners to walk their dogs in the early morning or late evening to avoid temperature extremes.”
Heatstroke can kill a dog within 15 minutes. Dogs who are overweight or suffer from brachycephalic syndrome — upper airway abnormalities typically affecting flat-faced breeds — are most likely to experience the condition, but all dogs are potentially at risk.
Recommended cooling methods if you suspect your dog is suffering from heatstroke include: –
- Cold water immersion for young, healthy dogs
- Pouring water of any temperature that is cooler than the dog over them combined with air movement from a breeze, fan, or air conditioning (evaporative cooling) for older dogs or dogs with underlying health problems
- Owners should also seek veterinary advice as soon as possible
Did you know…
- It can reach 46C in a car within 20 minutes on a hot day
- 50% is the average survival rate of dogs diagnosed with heatstroke
- Just 2C increase in body temperature is all it takes for heatstroke to kick in
- Last year on some of the hottest days of the year, Vet Now’s 60+ emergency clinics across the country saw on average 19% more cases than usual
For more information and advice, visit the Vet Now advice hub: https://www.vets-now.com/summer/dog-panting-and-restless-heat-stroke-signs/
Vets Now clinics and pet emergency hospitals are open through the night, seven-days-a-week, and day and night on weekends and bank holidays, to treat any pet emergencies that may occur.
You can book also book an appointment at Video Vets Now to speak to a qualified vet from anywhere. If a pet needs to be treated at any vet clinic, pet owners are refunded the online consultation fee.
