How to bathe your dog and keep him cool during a 34°C heatwave

Temperatures in the UK are soaring to annual highs and some pets are struggling to cope with the heat. Thick fur coats are not ideal for summer, so keep your pet cool

Britons today expect to feel the heat as the heatwave heating up the country peaks, also causing problems for babies and dogs.

Dogs can find the hot weather particularly difficult thanks to their thick coats, so owners are being advised on how to stay cool as the Met Office issues a heat warning.

Former RSPCA Inspector Antony Joynes took to Twitter to warn owners about our pets’ heat problems.

He said: “All animals can potentially suffer from heat stroke. Please don’t get caught. It is our responsibility as pet owners to protect our pets.

“I’m particularly concerned about rabbits that are stuck in pens and can’t escape the heat. Please take steps to protect them.”

How can you keep your pet cool?

How do I keep my dog ​​cool?

There are a number of ways you can keep your dog cool in the summer heatwave, including monitoring the weather and making sure to leave the dog in the car safely.

Avoid leaving the dog in the car

Never leave your dog in the baking car, not even with the window open.

Yappy.com said: “Dogs are dying in hot cars – fact. Just a 2 degree increase in your dog’s temperature can trigger heat stroke and deaths can occur in as little as 15 minutes.

“Never leave your dog in the car on a warm day, even if the window is open or you parked in the shade. Studies show that a car can heat up from 21 degrees to a dangerously high 32 degrees in just ten minutes. “

It is also important to take a 30-minute break outside the car every three hours on long journeys.

Treat your dog according to its breed

You’ll need to adjust your reaction to the hot weather depending on what type of breed your dog is.

Thicker fur and shorter muzzles mean a dog will have a harder time cooling down quickly, as panting is the only way to cool down.

The dog breeds most likely to be affected are:

• chow chow
• bulldog
• French bulldog
• greyhound
• dogue de bordeaux
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
• pug
• Golden retriever
• Springer Spaniel

Watch the weather

Don’t forget that in warm weather it can be hotter inside than outside, so spending time outdoors may be better for your dog as long as he finds a spot in the shade.

Make sure the interiors are as cool as possible.

How do I bathe my dog?

If you’re bathing your dog during a heat wave, make sure the water isn’t too warm.

The bath should be cooler than 37°C and anything that feels warm against our skin is usually a bit hotter.

Temperatures above 37°C can increase the dog’s heart rate, which is particularly bad for puppies and older dogs.

You should also avoid getting water in the dog’s nose and ears.

Yappy.com advised “urgent medical attention” if your dog is “panting heavier, faster and more normally”.

You should first move them to a shady spot and offer them small amounts of water.

Yappy explained further steps: “Lay the dog on a wet towel and dampen it with lukewarm water, direct a fan towards the dog or if you are in the car, turn on the air conditioning. This is the surest way to cool a dog down quickly.

“If the dog is really struggling you must call a vet immediately as every second counts – dogs can die in as little as 15 minutes.”