Overview
- The RSPCA renewed its appeal this week for owners to impose a short 'dog lockdown' and change routines to protect pets from an expected hot spell.
- The Met Office forecasted temperatures to rise from the high 20s into the low 30s with a peak around 34C in the South East on Thursday or Friday.
- The charity advises skipping non-essential walks, avoiding energetic play, and only taking dogs out briefly for toilet breaks in shaded areas.
- Practical steps recommended include offering multiple bowls of fresh water, creating cool zones with airflow or shade, using cooling mats or damp towels, and providing indoor mental enrichment.
- RSPCA and Inspiring Vet Care data showed 355 suspected heatstroke incidents in 2025 with 234 in the summer months, which the charity says underlines the need to reduce emergency vet cases now.