There are pet safety fears after an emergency vet practice was forced to close in Wiltshire.
Vets Now in Chippenham will be closed due to a staffing crisis this weekend as temperatures soar to a predicted 35 degrees Celsius tomorrow (Sunday, 17 July).
Pets suffering heatstroke or other serious illnesses will be seen at their Swindon clinic instead – meaning a lengthy additional travel time for sick animals.
For customers seeking an emergency vet (out of hours) will be faced with a potential delay of up to an hour, depending on where in the county they are travelling from.
Dogs could suffer from heatstroke and scorched paws if they are walked during the heatwave and blazing sunshine over the coming days.
Dr Dan O’Neill, Associate Professor of Companion Animal Epidemiology at the Royal Veterinary College, said: “Heat-related illness can lead to organ failure, brain damage and ultimately death.
“Most people know that dogs die in hot cars, but the reality is that more than 10 times as many dogs need veterinary treatment for heat-related illness following exercise as for being overheated in cars.
“It can take weeks for a dog to acclimatize to hot weather, so after a spell of cold winter, periods of hot weather can be particularly dangerous.”
Tips for keeping dogs comfortable in warm weather:
- Never leave your dog in a hot car, ever.
- Never leave your pets in any vehicle or caravan, or in a conservatory or outbuilding.
- Exercise dogs in the early morning or late evening when temperatures are cooler.
- Avoid over-exercising dogs in warm weather and avoid encouraging them to over-exert themselves when playing.
- If you know your dog has an underlying condition, then take extra care in hot weather or consider skipping walks altogether.
- Provide constant access to fresh, clean water and cool, shady resting spots.
- Avoid taking dogs on long days out in the heat.
- Remember, pavements can get very hot in the warm weather – if you can’t comfortably keep your hand on the ground for five seconds, then it’s too hot for your pooch’s paws too!
- If necessary, use a pet-safe sun cream on exposed parts of your pet’s skin
For advice, visit the RSPCA website. In an emergency, contact your pets’ veterinarian.
