Pets at risk as temperatures soar in East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire

With temperatures expected to reach 34 degrees across East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire this week, pet owners are being advised to take necessary precautions to ensure their animals stay safe during the heatwave.

The Blue Cross animal hospital in Grimsby has highlighted the risks associated with high temperatures, warning that all pets can quickly suffer from heat exhaustion.

Veterinary nurse Emma Burnett stressed the importance of avoiding walks during the hottest parts of the day.

Emma said:

"Avoid walking the dog at all. No dog ever died from missing a walk, but they will die if they get too hot. But you can either walk them first thing in the morning or later on in the evening if it is safe to do so."

She also cautioned about the dangers posed to cats and smaller animals.

"Cats should be kept inside, particularly if they've got white ears and faces because they can actually suffer from sunburn. And also small animals, hutches and cages should be moved into a shaded area where possible because rabbits and guinea pigs can also overheat," Emma said.

Emma highlighted other risks, such as burns from pavement and artificial grass, which can be significantly hotter than natural grass.

"The other danger that a lot of people are not aware of is artificial grass. It is often quite a lot hotter than natural grass. So that can be a hidden danger that they can get too hot from being on those surfaces as well."

She also warned about the assumption that beach outings could be cooler, sharing a case where a dog suffered heat stroke despite being at the beach.

"We've had dogs that have been exercised down the beach. People believe that because they're down the beach, they're cooler, but sometimes it's not enough. And we have had a heat stroke case of the dog just overheated from playing ball on the beach, even though it was wet."

Pet owners are encouraged to take these warnings seriously to protect their animals during the intense heatwave.

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