Pet owners have been warned amid a historic red heatwave warning across the UK, including in Oxfordshire.
Temperatures are expected to climb well into the 30s, and the Met Office has issued a red warning for heat across today (Wednesday, June 24) and tomorrow (Thursday, June 25).
Dog owners are being urged to take extra care to prevent heatstroke in their pets during the current hot spell.
Unlike humans, dogs cannot cool themselves efficiently, relying mainly on panting and a small amount of sweating through their paw pads, which leaves them particularly vulnerable when the air is very hot and humid.
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MoneySuperMarket is using the latest heat alerts to call on owners to rethink their usual routines, warning that heatstroke can prove fatal for dogs in as little as 15 to 30 minutes if their body temperature spirals out of control.
To reinforce the message, the company has partnered with veterinary nurse Zoe Blake, a qualified nurse and behavioural specialist with more than 30 years’ experience working with animals, to share practical guidance on keeping pets safe.
Ms Blake said: "Working as a veterinary nurse, I’ve seen firsthand how dangerous heatstroke can be for dogs in hot conditions.
"Many cases are entirely preventable with early awareness and simple precautions, which is why recognising the signs and acting quickly is so important."
The current red warnings cover large parts of England and Wales, where forecasters are flagging extreme heat, high humidity and very warm nights that make it harder for both people and animals to recover.
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MoneySuperMarket says dogs in those areas should not be walked during the hottest parts of the day, and in some cases not at all outdoors while the alert is in force, with owners instead advised to keep pets indoors in cool, shaded rooms and ensure they have constant access to fresh water.
As part of its campaign, the firm has created a “Hot Dog Index” using several years of weather data to identify where dogs may be most at risk of overheating, factoring in temperature, humidity, wind speed and “feels like” readings rather than just headline highs.
The analysis suggests counties such as Northamptonshire, Middlesex and Surrey, as well as Oxfordshire, regularly experience conditions that are challenging for dogs during hot spells, with higher humidity and lower wind speeds making it harder for animals to lose heat.
Ms Blake says the main early warning sign of heatstroke is excessive panting, often combined with agitation and restlessness, as dogs struggle to cool themselves.
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She adds that heavy drooling, difficulty breathing, wobbliness or confusion should also ring alarm bells, along with noticeable changes in tongue or gum colour, which may turn blue‑purple or bright red as circulation and oxygenation are affected.
More severe symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhoea, tremors, collapse or seizures, all of which indicate a medical emergency that needs immediate veterinary attention.
MoneySuperMarket’s pet insurance expert Kara Gammell said: “Heatstroke is a medical emergency and can, in some cases, become fatal in as little as 15 to 30 minutes. If a dog’s temperature rises beyond control, it can cause major and often irreversible organ damage.”
She added that owners should “always think: cool first, transport second,” advising them to begin pouring cool, room‑temperature water over a dog to start lowering their temperature before taking them straight to the nearest vet for emergency treatment.
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