How hot is too hot? A warning to dog owners against dangerous walks as temperatures rise across the UK

The Scottish SPCA is urging people to question “how hot is too hot?” before walking their dog as heatwave hits the UK

In a Facebook post, the Scottish SPCA warns: “Is it too hot to walk your dog? As temperatures climb, it’s important to be mindful of your dog’s safety during walks.” They go on to say how misjudgement can lead to serious consequences: “More dogs die from hot walks than in hot cars. Your dog depends on you to make the right call. When in doubt, sit the walk out.”

“When in doubt, sit the walk out“

As the temperature starts to rise, dog owners across the UK are being urged to think carefully before walking their dog outside during the hotter months. To help make their decision, the Scottish SPCA have created a “how hot is too hot” chart.

An image of the chart for the "How hot is too hot" campaign to urge people to think twice before walking their dog during the heatwave.

The animal welfare charity created a scorecard to illustrate the different levels of the risk, depending on the different factors. It goes on to explain: “While most dogs are comfortable walking between 15c and 25c, individual factors like age, breed, coat type, and fitness level play a significant role in how well they tolerate the heat.

“Plus 1 [to the risk if your dog is] less than six-months-old, older than eight-years-old, brachycephalic, obese.

“Minus 1 if water is available and the area is shaded from the sun.”

“Hot weather can be an unexpected killer for dogs“

Jo Neilson, the Scottish SPCA’s Senior Veterinary Surgeon reported: “Hot weather can be an unexpected killer for dogs.

“People underestimate how much harder it is for dogs to cope with than it is for humans because dogs can’t sweat to cool off like we can.

“Vets are 4 times more likely to have to treat dogs suffering from heat stroke because they’ve been walked in weather that is too hot“

“We all know dogs die in hot cars but what many people don’t know is that vets are 4 times more likely to have to treat dogs suffering from heat stroke because they’ve been walked in weather that is too hot for them to cope with.

“If in doubt remember missing one walk won’t kill your dog but taking a walk in hot weather might.

Neilson advises: “Be careful of unhelpful, and in some cases, dangerous misinformation online about how to treat heat stroke in dogs. The best thing is to cool them as fast as possible then get them to a vet.”

Members of the public can read more advice on caring for their dog during hot weather and how to identify heat stroke on the Scottish SPCA’s website.