With Britain baking in its hottest May on record and temperatures expected to climb even higher this week, vets and animal welfare charities are issuing urgent warnings to dog owners — urging them to think carefully before reaching for the lead, as heatstroke in dogs can kill within minutes.
Kew Gardens hit 34.8C on Bank Holiday Monday, smashing the previous May temperature record, and the Met Office has forecast possible highs of 36C in parts of southern England and Wales on Tuesday. At those temperatures, every breed of dog is firmly in the danger zone.
The British Veterinary Association has advised owners to stick to early morning and late evening walks only, and to avoid exercising pets in the hottest parts of the day entirely. Emergency vet service Vets Now operates a temperature risk scale for dog walking, which places anything between 24 and 27C at high risk rated eight out of ten, 28 to 31C at nine out of ten, and 32C and above at maximum danger — a ten out of ten. With Tuesday’s forecast, the entire country sits at the top of that scale.
The advice from Worcestershire’s senior dog warden Pip Singleton is blunt: “Your dog will not die with one less walk. However, heatstroke to dogs can be fatal.” The RSPCA adds that dogs are ten times more likely to suffer heat-related illness from exercising in the heat than from overheating in a car.
During the 2022 heatwave, a BVA survey found that half of all vets across the UK saw animals requiring treatment for heat-related illness, with dogs the most commonly affected species.
One of the simplest checks owners can carry out before venturing out is the pavement test. Place your palm flat on the tarmac for five seconds — if it feels too hot for you, it is too hot for your dog’s paws. Hot tarmac can burn paw pads within seconds and cause lasting damage. Some experts now recommend extending this to a seven-second test to be certain.
Unlike humans, dogs struggle to cool down in high temperatures and humid conditions because they cannot sweat effectively, making them highly vulnerable to overheating. Even a very short walk in the middle of the day can prove fatal.
Flat-faced, or brachycephalic, breeds — including pugs, bulldogs and French bulldogs — face the greatest risk, as their shortened snouts make panting far less effective at regulating body temperature. Older dogs, overweight dogs, those with thick coats and animals with existing heart or respiratory conditions are also significantly more vulnerable. The BVA advises owners to be especially cautious with these groups and to keep them indoors during peak heat hours wherever possible.
If a walk is unavoidable, the guidance is consistent across all major vet and welfare organisations: go out before 8am or after 8pm, stick to shaded grass rather than pavement, carry fresh water at all times and keep the outing short.
Warning signs of heatstroke include heavy or laboured panting, excessive drooling, lethargy, glassy eyes, unsteady movement, vomiting and diarrhoea. If any of these appear, stop immediately and move the dog to a cool, shaded and well-ventilated area. Pour cool — not cold — water over the body, avoiding the head, and offer small sips to drink without forcing them. A spokesperson for Medivet said owners should soak their pet with cool water, or even non-toxic fluids such as cold fizzy drinks if water is not immediately available, before contacting a vet for advice.
Never leave a dog in a car, conservatory, caravan or any enclosed space during the current conditions, even briefly. Temperatures inside a parked vehicle can reach lethal levels within minutes.
