A group of animal welfare and veterinary organisations is encouraging dog owners to get savvy about the risks from hot weather as the Met Office predicts it will soon turn “much warmer” in large parts of the country.

As the Met Office predicts this week it will turn “much warmer” in large parts of the country, animal welfare charities and veterinary organisations are teaming up to urge pet owners to be extra cautious when it comes to warm weather.

Figures from the Royal Veterinary College’s latest heatstroke study, published in the Vet Record, reveal the number of heatstroke cases vets dealt with increased five-fold during the heat-health alert periods (heatwaves) between June to August in 2022, and one in four affected dogs died.

After 2022’s record-breaking hot summer, a survey by the British Veterinary Association found one in 10 (9%) of vets in small animal practice had seen at least one dog affected by heatstroke after being left in a hot car. But walks in hot weather could pose an even greater risk – with almost four times as many vets (38%) having seen at least one dog affected by heatstroke after being walked on a hot day.

The groups have also revealed the importance of owners being prepared to ‘cool down’ overheated dogs – as just stopping exercise during warmer periods may not be enough to keep them safe.

Emily Hall, lecturer and lead canine heatstroke researcher at the Royal Veterinary College, said: “Dogs die in hot cars and on hot walks. Owners must avoid known triggers to heat-related illness – especially during heatwaves; if in doubt, don’t go out.

“If there is concern a dog has overheated, our advice is: cool first, transport second. The longer we allow our dogs to remain hot, the more damage occurs, increasing the risk of heatstroke fatalities.

“If you spot early signs of your dog overheating, simply stopping exercise may not be enough. Owners need to think ahead and plan how they will cool their dogs in an emergency, especially after exercise or while travelling.”