As the temperatures climb, it’s not just humans feeling the heat, our pets are too.

From panting pups to frazzled felines, summer can be tough on our four-legged friends.

So, how do we keep them cool, comfy, and out of danger?

Pete Wedderburn, AKA Pete the Vet, recommended that owners keep an eye out for animals suffering from a pollen allergy.

“I probably see two or three dogs a day and maybe one cat a week because of that, because they’re getting an allergic reaction to pollens floating around in the air, landing on their skin and causing the skin to become really itchy,” he told The Hard Shoulder.

“There’s quite a lot of dogs and cats out there that, through the summer months, they have to have a regular anti-inflammatory medication to keep their skin comfortable.

“It’s kind of like a version of hay fever, but it’s a skin version rather than the nose and eye type version.”

Pete said symptoms include itchiness and red skin, particularly on pets’ ears.

While it can be hard to tell if your pet is just having a good scratch, Pete said that if the behaviour only starts up in the warmer months, it’s best to take a trip to the vets to get it checked out.

Yorkshire terrier dog in the sun with flowers. Image: byAZ3 / Alamy. 1 May 2019

He also warned dog owners to be careful of how much their pet is exercised in the heat.

“Dogs can’t take off their coats, and they can’t sweat all over their body either, so the only way they can lose body heat is by panting,” he said.

“If it’s really hot around them, let’s say they’re inside a car maybe, or they’re in a conservatory - or maybe even if they’re on a walk out in hot weather - when they pant, they can’t lose heat enough.

“So, then they overheat, and every year we actually see dogs dying of heat stroke.”

Pete said a dog suffering from heat stroke will typically be so tired it can’t move, and will pant heavily, often with a distressed look on its face.

He said owners should use water to cool their pup down as much as possible before bringing them to the vet, to increase their chances of survival.

Main image: Man playing ball with his happy whippet dog on beach in sun and water, Cornwall, UK. Image: Carla Tracy Photography / Alamy. 5 June 2023