I’m a vet – watch out for the summer hazard that poses life-threatening risk to your dog… & four other crucial warnings
IT hasn't felt much like summer recently, but some much sought-after warm weather is rumoured to be making a return this weekend.
Dog owners will be looking forward to taking their pooches for a stroll in the sunshine.
But there are a few summer hazards to be aware of when you're out and about.
To avoid putting your pet in harm's way, our team of vets reveal the worst offenders to watch out for - and some can be life-threatening.
'Arrowhead' seeds
One big pest for canines in summer is foxtail grass seeds, which have spiky tips that can pierce skin and often get stuck in paw pads, causing infections.
They start appearing in late July and stick around for up to six weeks, causing issues for almost all dog breeds.
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The pale yellow-coloured seeds are shaped like little arrowheads and are hard to spot among your pet's fur when they lodge themselves in coats, feet and eyes.
The infections and abscesses they cause can be life-threatening if left untreated.
TV vet Rory Cowlam told The Sun: "We had one dog recently in the clinic that we had to do surgery on because he had managed to get one inside his penis and it was migrating through into his leg and it was causing a real issue.
"They're horrible things and any owner needs to be aware of them.
"They should always check their dog's coat for the seeds whenever they get home from a walk."
Another risk is the grass seeds getting lodged in your dog's ear canals.
Breeds with droopy ears like spaniels are more at risk, so do check them regularly, especially if you see them shaking their heads a lot or scratching their ears.
Water worries
"This can be a deadly condition if contracted by a dog."
Scorching surfaces
Four Paws UK recommends refrigerating a ceramic tile or piece of slate for them to lie on and putting it in a shady area.
Stuffy cages
While everyone typically thinks of cats and dogs when it comes to excessive heat, Rory says hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits are at just as much risk.
"They are really prone to overheating and we neglect them a little bit more than our dogs or cats by being more hands-off," he said.
"We put them in a garage or in a small room but these spaces get really hot because there's not much airflow."
He recommends buying grill-based cages to allow air to circulate and to watch out for rabbits lying down in the sun panting and guinea pigs becoming more lethargic.
Most humans struggle to sleep with a quilt during the summer and it's the same for some animals.
Rory advises keeping bedding light for cage and hut-dwelling pets by reducing the amount of straw and hay, which traps heat.
Another issue is that "most small animals poo and wee in their cages" and due to it containing ammonia, which has a low evaporation point, it can be deadly.
Rory said: "If you see your hamster or another small animal coughing or wheezing get them to a vet quickly.
"Ammonia can cause respiratory issues which can get really bad quickly and cause things like scarring to their lungs and other irreversible damage."
Infections
Samantha warned that it's vital to check pets' bodies once a day for sores too, as sweaty and sticky conditions can lead to infections.
This particularly applies to hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits.
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Reptiles especially can suffer "excessive shedding", which can be painful and needs to be treated.
Samantha added: "The main thing is to be sensible really. If you wouldn't do something during a hot day your pet won't want to either."