The Met Office is now warning pet owners to avoid walking their dogs during certain times of the day, following the news of a third heatwave for later this week.
Temperatures in the UK are expected to rise back up over 30C by the end of this week, as the Met Office confirmed that a third wave was on the way. Dog owners have been urged to listen up. Whilst this might be great news for some, Brits have been advised to take some precautions, especially for those who are pet owners.
Marco Petagna, a senior meteorologist at the Met Office, warned that temperatures would begin to reach the thresholds of 25 and 28 degrees. He also added: “Temperatures are going to continue to climb as we go toward the end of the week and certainly by Friday and Saturday we could see 30 degrees, perhaps just nudging into the low 30s.”
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As Brits have been urged to follow some guidelines for their safety in the heat, taking extra precautions for their pets at home is expected. Therefore and consequently, pet owners are now to do their usual walks in the early morning or late evening, when the temperatures are not too hot.
The message applies especially to older pets, flat-faced breeds or dogs with existing illnesses such as heart or lung problems.
Sean McCormack, a head vet at Tails.com, explained: “While enjoying the sunshine is something both humans and dogs often love, it’s important to understand that a dog’s ability to regulate heat is very different from ours.”
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He explained: “This makes it essential for pet owners, particularly those new to dog care, to take proactive steps to keep their pets cool, safe, and comfortable during hot spells.”
Pet owners are now to tweak their walking times to protect their puppies from the scorching heat. It’s also important for pets to have access to fresh water to drink, adequate ventilation and a shaded space to avoid direct sunlight.
How long will the heatwave last?
The UK weather is quite unpredictable. As the weather begins to warm up in the next few days, the Met Office said that it will start to cool down by early next week.
However, Brits might be able to keep the sun for a little while in some areas. They said: “It’s certainly possible that hot conditions may persist for a while longer, especially towards the south and east.”
