With the recent heatwave breaking all the records in Europe, you should all know that if it’s too hot for you to be outside, then it’s definitely too hot for your dog. However, not all dog owners are aware of how dangerous waking their four-legged companions on hot pavements can be.
After the Blue Cross treated a dog for burnt paws, few days ago, the animal welfare charity in UK came up with a warning for all dog owners out there. According to Tracey Parnell, Blue Cross Veterinary Nurse, we can easily check if it is safe to walk our pets using this simple test.
“In this hot weather, dogs should only be walked first thing in the morning and last thing at night. A simple test is to take your own shoes off and stand on the path. If you are unable to keep your feet on the path for five seconds, then it is not safe to walk your dog,” she said.
☀️ HOT WEATHER WARNING! ☀️ Keep your pet’s paws safe today with this simple rule.
1. Stand on the path barefoot for five seconds.
If it’s uncomfortable for you, it’s uncomfortable for your dog! pic.twitter.com/4YAFy4qVtW
— Blue Cross (@The_Blue_Cross) June 1, 2019
The animal rights group also strongly recommend to walk the dogs on grass during those extreme hot days. You should also know that the pavement/asphalt temperature double then the air temperature.
On the other hand, even if not walking, the extreme temperature could be fatal for a dog. You should know they have big difficulties in handling high temperatures and humidity.
Therefore, during the hot days, always watch out for warning signals like this: heavy panting; excessive thirst; glazed eyes; bright or dark red tongue, gums; staggering; elevated body temperature (104ºF and up); weakness or collapse.
In case you suspect your dog is suffering from heatstroke, make sure you act as quickly as possible. To find out more about what to do if your dog collapsed, watch the video bellow!
