Image: kp yamu Jayanath from Pixabay (AI Gen image)
Heatstroke
Warm, sunny days are lovely, but too much heat can be extremely dangerous for our canine companions – especially for flat-face breeds and overweight dogs, who find it more difficult to cool themselves down. During hot weather, it’s important to give your dog plenty of shade and water to drink and make sure they go for walkies during the cooler times in the day. It’s also important to avoid extreme exercise, such as running or games of fetch.
Sunburn
Glorious as it may be, when the sun is shining, any exposed skin on your dog’s body is at risk of sunburn. Fortunately, fur protects most of your dog, but any bald patches or areas of exposed skin are at risk of burning. Make sure you protect your dog from the sun, especially breeds that have no fur, e.g., Chinese Crested dogs.
Blue green algae
Swimming is one of the joys of warm weather and is a great way to cool your pup down, but it’s important to check the water is safe before you let your pooch dip their paws. Blue green algae is a dangerous bacteria that grows in stagnant water during warm weather. To avoid this, do not let your dog drink or swim in dirty water.
Ticks
It’s not just us that enjoy the warmer weather – bugs and parasites thrive too, which is why you’re much more likely to find a tick attached to your pooch in the summer. Ticks are unlikely to cause any problems if they are removed quickly and properly. We recommend monthly tick prevention, especially in the North East and Scotland. Scotland is one of the most prone areas to ticks.
Insect bites and stings
Wasp or bee sting sites are likely to become red, swollen and painful. Most stings aren’t serious, but if your dog is allergic, swelling rapidly, or their breathing is affected, it’s important to act quickly!
Snake bites
Dogs are curious creatures and often explore the world with a nose-first approach, which can result in a bite if they come across a sunbathing snake! Luckily, two out of the three species of snake in the UK are non-venomous, but if your curious canine disturbs an adder, the outcome is likely to be a bit more serious. Adders are venomous, which means their bite can cause serious illness – if your dog is bitten, you should contact your vet immediately. Adders can be found in the Cheviots, which is near Wooler, so please be careful. See our adder article for more information, and also our adder bite case study.
If this article has raised any questions or concerns about your pet, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 01665 252 250 or email us at info@coquetvets.co.uk.
