23/05/2026
As you will all understand, we will be offering VERY limited services until the temps drop back down a bit.
Here are our nuggets of wisdom on contending with hot days:
• Freeze bowls or kongs etc with wet food, raw food, soaked kibble, smears of peanut butter.
• Raw and frozen bones like lamb ribs or huge knuckle bones (if your dog isn't at risk of smashing its teeth!) always go down well.
• Freeze bottles of water to wrap in towels and place in beds and to place behind fans and point at dogs (and wrap in towels to take to bed with you... Trust me on this one, it makes hot nights so much more bearable for us humans!)
• Keep windows open over night and then shut them and close all curtains as soon as the sun comes up so that your house stands half a chance of staying cooler than it is outside.
• If you have the means for the initial outlay, invest in a proper Air Con. They really do make the world of difference for all beings in your home.
• Remember that if your dog is getting too hot, IMMEDIATE COOLING is the order of the day. Cold water immersion is long proven to be the very best way of cooling them rapidly.
Danger signs of overheating are sticky gums, poor capillary refill time (press gently on the gums with a finger and if the gum stays white before returning to the usual pink for more than a second, start the cooling process straight away). Excessive panting with a wide mouth and a scooped, long tongue, get that dog in cold water.
You're always better laying a hot dog on a very wet towel than covering them with one as a wet towel can rapidly just become a warm blanket.
If they have glassy eyes, are shaking, have erratic movements or have red/purple gums or become unresponsive, DRENCH THEM in cold water and rush them to the vets immediately.
Remember: "WET, THEN VET".
Do not buy into Internet myths about cold water or ice cubes being dangerous. It's all absolute nonsense and that nonsense kills dogs.
It also goes without saying that doing anything approaching exercise when it is excessively hot is asking for trouble.
Avoid the heat of the day and if in doubt, just don't go out at all.
I don't need to remind anyone here that dogs die in hot cars, that hot pavement can burn paws or that playing fetch and running around in hot weather is asking for trouble.
Stay safe, stay cool, stock up on frozen treats for you and your dogs and stay sensible 💪
