We are seeing a lot of problems in dogs, and some cats, related to the hot weather. Several who were just about coping with their heart conditions have been tipped into heart failure, and we have seen the same with kidney failure and also some heat strokes, along with the steady flow of adder bites.

I was on the beach yesterday at 1 o'clock (day off - yay!) and was concerned to see the number of dogs being walked at a fast pace, at a point that was at least 2 miles from any car parking. It was very hot and I could see some of the dogs struggling. I suspect some of them rarely walked that far but their owners may have been on holiday or just tempted out by the great weather.

Dogs can't sweat and they wear fur coats all year round. The heat is a serious issue for them and they really are better left at home until it is cool in the evening (it was still hot at 7pm yesterday). At the least it is a welfare issue and at worst it can be fatal.

If you are out with your dog and it is hot, try and put him in some water regularly - the sea is ideal, just make sure he doesnt drink it! Take a bottle of water and a bowl. Remember that you have stripped down to your shorts and t-shirt, but he can't....

This is Taz. He came in today with a slightly different heat-related problem. His owner had very sensibly let him swim because of the heat. He had enjoyed it so much that he spent about 2 hours in a lovely cool pond. Later, however, he was feeling a bit sorry for himself, because swimming requires different muscles to running, particularly tail muscles and ligaments, and Taz had basically strained the base of his tail through using it as a rudder. He was very uncomfortable and couldn't wag it (a serious problem for such a happy dog), or even sit down comfortably. He's gone home with some anti-inflammatory medication and should soon be right as rain!