Why walking dogs in a heatwave can be dangerous

People are being warned about the dangers of walking their dogs in a heatwave by a vet, after police reported seeing them out during the hottest times of the day.

Staffordshire Police issued a plea on Facebook, asking people not to walk their pets when temperatures, which have surged above 30C this week, were at their highest.

The force said officers have seen people doing so "in the peak heat" and urged dog owners to take them out in the early mornings or late evenings instead.

Responding to the statement, Dr Amy Stamp, of Lime Trees Vets in Stoke-on-Trent, said she could not believe it but "we see it every single time".

"It must be stressed every time we have a heatwave that you can not walk your dog in the middle of the day, it's not safe," she told BBC Radio Stoke.

Stamp said dogs found it "incredibly difficult" to cool down in high temperatures, especially as their coats trap the heat.

As well as panting, dogs can only sweat through their paws, the RSPCA says.

Stamp said this could lead to the pets suffering from heatstroke, which could damage their internal organs.

"We do see dogs die from heatstroke," she added, "from being outside in temperatures like this or trapped in a warm environment, such as a car or conservatory."

She said temperatures above 25C were too hot for most dogs, while for those with additional risk factors, including being old, having a flat face or being overweight, even above 20C could be dangerous.

Stamp said signs for owners to look out for were that dogs would start panting at first, which might continue after they were taken into a cooler environment, like shade or inside.

They might pace and seem distressed, she added, and they might drool or, if it became more serious, they could collapse, suffer seizures or vomit.

"At that point, it is very, very serious and I would urge owners that, if their dogs are panting uncontrollably, that is the time to get them wet and take them to the vet," she added.

As well as taking them into cooler places, Stamp said people should "completely saturate" their dogs with whatever cold water is available, including by using a hose or a cool bath.

"Dogs just live for every moment, they can't foresee what the consequences will be," she added.

"There will be dogs with joint pain who chase a ball for hours on end because it's what they want to do.

"So we have got to act in their best interests and if you have a dog who likes sunbathing, you've got to know when the temperature is too hot and get them into the shade or inside."

Stamp said she agreed with the statement issued by Staffordshire Police about not walking dogs during the middle of the day.

But she added even walking them late in the evening could be dangerous, as temperatures could still be as high as 26C at about 21:00 BST.

Check the pavement with your hand before letting your dog walk on it, a spokesperson for the Dogs Trust said.

They recommended holding your hand down for five seconds - if it is too hot for you, they recommend walking your dog later when it has cooled down, to avoid burning their paws.

Stamp said early-morning walks were better than late-evening walks, adding that in her view, the temperatures in the morning were usually much safer.

While dogs could get worked up without exercise, Stamp said there were other things owners could do to "mentally exercise" them "without taking them for a walk and risking their lives".

This could include scent work, by hiding their favourite toys or treats, she added.

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