LONDON, Aug. 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ —
- 7 in 10 UK canine homeowners say they’re involved about what rising UK temperatures imply for his or her pet pooch with 1 in 10 dogs having suffered from summer time warmth exhaustion
- Almost two thirds of canine homeowners (64%) unaware that sizzling temperatures in cloudy however humid climate will be simply as harmful for dogs as vibrant, sunny climate
- 75% of homeowners unaware that 23 levels is the temperature turning level at which they need to train warning when walking their canine, in response to professional vet
- Petplan has launched the Weather Furcast – a digital instrument advising when is and is not protected to go for walks based mostly on canine breed, which updates in actual time based mostly in your native temperature
After a run of disappointing drizzle all through July, the UK is about to hit increased notes this week, because the temperature peaks at a pleasant 26 levels – nice for people, however not so pleasant for dogs.
To lend a serving to hand to canine homeowners all over the place, Petplan has launched a first-of-its-kind interactive “Weather Furforged” for dogs*. The digital instrument, hosted on Petplan.co.uk updates in actual time to point out when is and is not protected to walk your canine, serving to canine homeowners make protected decisions this summer time.
The launch comes as over 6 in 10 (64%) canine homeowners have been unaware that cloudy however humid climate could possibly be hazardous to their pups**, and over 8 in 10 mentioned that on a sunny day, they’d wait till it was cloudier to walk their canine. Whilst this feels logical, the true hazard to dogs lies within the temperature, not whether or not or not it is sunny, though this nonetheless performs an element.
Although almost two thirds of canine homeowners (62%) have been assured they knew precisely when it was protected to walk their dogs in summer time, just one quarter (25%) accurately recognized 23 levels as being the turning level at which homeowners needs to be exercising warning.
With temperatures simply shy of 30 early this week, shockingly, almost 1 in 10 canine homeowners mentioned they’d fortunately walk their canine in 28 diploma warmth – a hazardous temperature for all dogs, and doubtlessly life-threatening for big and high-risk dogs, reminiscent of these with flat faces.
For avoidance of doubt, canine homeowners can head to the Weather Furforged for recommendation – customers ought to merely choose their canine kind from small, medium, giant and high-risk breeds (with a key for steerage), in addition to their native area. The present temperature of their space will show on the map, alongside a pink, amber or inexperienced paw print image and furmometer, letting them know whether or not it is protected to exit, whether or not they should train warning, or whether or not the present temperature is harmful, and they need to keep indoors in the intervening time.
The analysis additionally highlighted that the most important considerations in relation to summer time petcare have been dehydration (67%), heatstroke (61%) and issue respiration/extreme panting (45%). Over one third of British pet homeowners mentioned though they’d a imprecise concept of when it is protected to take their canine for walks, they weren’t sure at which temperature it turns into harmful.
Whilst the instrument goals to assist keep away from any heat-related diseases in dogs this summer time, pet homeowners ought to nonetheless familiarise themselves with warmth stroke first support, because the recent survey revealed that over three quarters of pet homeowners (78%) incorrectly imagine it is protected to put a moist towel over their pet within the case of heatstroke.
Although well-meaning, the fact is that inserting a moist towel over your pet’s physique – together with cats too – can entice within the warmth, inflicting them to overheat additional. Instead, the pet needs to be moved into the shade, and onto a cool floor the place attainable, and a cool, damp towel needs to be positioned beneath their physique.
Other warmth stroke signs pet homeowners weren’t assured in recognising included heavy panting (30%) and an upset abdomen (49%).
Brian Faulkner, RCVS-registered Veterinary Surgeon and Petplan spokesperson mentioned, “Pet homeowners throughout the nation have the perfect intentions in relation to summer time petcare, however within the UK, we’re not but accustomed to the upper summer time temperatures we frequently now see. Despite a summer time of intermittent sunshine, homeowners nonetheless have to train warning, as even overcast, cloudy climate will be hazardous for dogs. We have to adapt our canine walking routines and normal pet care behaviours to fulfill rising temperatures, and Petplan’s new Furcast instrument goals to assist take uncertainty out of the equation.”
With 15% of canine homeowners having needed to go to the vets resulting from heat-related sickness and summer-related accidents like stings and bites, and 1 in 2 canine homeowners (50%) planning to spend this Bank Holiday weekend outdoor with their pooch, Petplan has compiled a information on how greatest to look after dogs, cats and rabbits this summer time. Visit www.petplan.co.uk/pet-information/canine/recommendation/summer-tips-for-dogs/ to search out out extra and check out the Weather Furcast instrument.
Notes to editors
* The Weather Furcast is a instrument for normal steerage. Whilst veterinary experience has helped inform the instrument and the recommendation supplied, pet homeowners with particular considerations and queries referring to their very own canine(s) ought to seek the advice of their native vet.
**Research based mostly on GenPop survey of 1564 UK canine homeowners performed June-August 2023
Full information set:
- 70% of UK canine homeowners are involved in regards to the impact rising temperatures could have on their furry mates.
- 36% mentioned they’d a imprecise concept of when it was protected to take their canine out however weren’t sure
- Nearly 10% would walk their canine in 28 diploma warmth
- Top considerations in relation to pet care this summer time are:
– Dehydration 67%
– Heatstroke 61%
– Difficulty respiration and extreme panting 45%
– Struggling to manage in a heatwave 44%
– Leaving them alone once you exit 29% - Only 25% knew that 23 levels was the roughly temp at which you could train warning with any canine breed
- 1 in 10 dogs had suffered from warmth exhaustion / 13% stung or bitten by bugs
- 30% would not recognise heavy panting as an indication of heatstroke
- 51% incorrectly imagine swelling was an indication of heatstroke, and 56% incorrectly believed muscle spasms have been
- 49% did not know an upset abdomen could possibly be an indication of heatstroke
- 78% thought you must put a moist towel over your pet when it has heatstroke incorrect
- 55% did not know pouring cool water over your canine’s physique was a part of heatstroke first support
- 64% did not know that cloudy, humid climate could possibly be hazardous for dogs
- 86% mentioned on a sizzling day, they’d wait till it was cloudier/much less sunny to walk their canine
- 50% will likely be spending the Bank Holiday weekend outdoor with their canine
About Petplan
Established over 42 years in the past, Petplan is the UK’s No.1 pet insurance coverage supplier, providing complete pet insurance coverage, together with lifetime cowl for dogs, cats and rabbits. Petplan is a part of Allianz Insurance plc, one of many largest normal insurers within the UK.
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2192833/Petplan_Weather_Furcast.jpg
SOURCE Petplan
