With around three quarters of heat related illnesses that vets see being from dogs exercising, experts have explained how to keep them safe as the temperatures soar.
Our reporter Justine Larter spoke to some local owners to learn how they're keeping their furry friends cool.
00:00Us humans are well versed in how to battle a heatwave, but there is concern for our four-legged friends.
00:07Experts say that it could be too hot to even walk your dog at all in this heat.
00:12So our advice, certainly for our dogs, is to make sure that we're walking them, if at all.
00:17Sometimes it's still too hot to walk them at all, but at the moment I would say really early in the morning
00:22or later in the evening once the sun's gone down.
00:25It really, really is a crucial message for everyone to understand that if you feel that it's too hot to exercise your dog, just don't exercise them.
00:35There's lots that we can do at home to keep them occupied and keep them entertained and keep them cool.
00:40And if they miss out on a walk once or twice a week, it's not the end of the world and they will thank you for it rather than getting too hot.
00:49So what do dog owners make of this heatwave?
00:51I wouldn't take my dog out in this because I know, like, I used to go, like, miles walking with my dog and it'd be collapsing before I was.
01:01If you take your dog out in the heat, it's going to get dehydrated quite quickly and there'll be shortness of breath where it's too hot.
01:11And also dogs in hot cars, they shouldn't be left in hot cars by themselves with windows open.
01:20It could lead to death.
01:22We should provide them with water and keep them in shelter and not take them out too much in the hot sun.
01:28But statistics show that most heat-related illnesses in dogs come from exercising rather than being left in hot cars.
01:37Around 75% of cases that vets see are from dogs exercising in the heat.
01:42A really key message that we want to get to dog owners is if you see those early warning signs, that heavy panting, maybe the drooling, that's the time to immediately try and cool your dog.
01:52Get them out of the sun, get them to a cool area and douse them in cold water.
01:57So I'm here with Luna, who's ready for a short walk, but I need to check if the ground is cool enough for her little paws first.
02:05I just place my palm on the ground and if I can't hold it there comfortably for more than five seconds, then it's too hot for her.
