Pet safety this summer

Top tips from the Mayhew team about caring for your pets in the heat

Eight black puppies in a large blue paddling pool in a garden

It has been a rather damp summer but the sun is out and it will be much warmer over the coming days. While it is tempting to get outside and enjoy the hot weather with our canine and feline friends, the team here at Mayhew have a few top tips on keeping your pets cool and safe during this hot spell:

Keep your pets cool

Always make sure your pets have somewhere cool and shady to retreat to when it gets hot, along with access to plenty of fresh drinking water. Animals can feel the symptoms of the heat far quicker than us humans.

Walk early morning or evening

Try to restrict exercising your dogs on hot days, going for walks early in the morning or evening when it is much cooler. Remember, a dog's paws are extremely sensitive and can burn easily walking on hot pavements and even sand.

Check for insect bites

Insect bites can be common during the summer, although they're not usually serious. You can treat these at home with a wrapped ice pack or damp cool towel. Keep an eye out for any allergic reactions and contact your vet if you are concerned.

Apply sun cream if needed

Pets can get sunburn too, especially those with short hair, white hair or pink ears. You can apply pet-specific sun cream when they venture outside, and if they do burn, apply a cool compress to soothe the area.

Be careful with leftovers

We all love a BBQ - tasty food and having friends and family over. Be mindful of your pets on these days - BBQ leftovers can be high in fat and cause stomach irritation, and pose a number of other risks to dogs and cats

Look out for heatstroke

Hot temperatures can cause heatstroke. Some signs of heatstroke are heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, excessive thirst, lethargy, fever, dizziness, drooling, vomiting and unconsciousness. If you are concerned about your pet, call your vet.

Pet Advice