Dog owner warns you should never spray pets with water to cool them down during heatwave

Summer typically brings joy with its sunny days. However, for our furry companions, the heat can be a bit too much.

Unlike humans, dogs don't sweat and their fur coats aren't exactly designed for summer weather. Therefore, as a dog owner, it's crucial to ensure your pet stays cool — particularly during a heatwave.

Temperatures in Gloucestershire will hit 29C this week in a real taste of summer weather. The mercury will start to rise today (Monday, June 22) with highs of 25C with a jump to 28C on Tuesday and then 29C on Wednesday.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued yellow heat health alerts until Thursday, urging the public to remain cautious. This means dog owners need to take extra care to keep their pets cool and healthy in the hot weather.

A chocolate labrador owner, known online as @buddy_the_brown_labrador, has shared some tips on social media for looking after pets during the summer. In a video that has received over 31,000 likes, they advised: "You should never spray your dog with cold water to cool him down?

"It would cause the capillaries under their skin to close and you would get the opposite effect. Your dog will then retain even more heat."

Instead, it's better to let dogs cool off in a pool as they dissipate heat from their paws and mouth. The pet owner also suggested shifting walk times to cooler parts of the day, before 7am and after 10pm.

They shared: "Do you have air conditioning? Great! Use it. Just make sure your dog is completely inside. If it gets too hot indoors, move the dog to a cooler place in the house."

Towards the end of their advice, they emphasised that its vital for owners to "always make sure your dog has plenty of fresh drinking water" provide a "spot in the shade" and to "brush your dog daily to remove loose hair".

The advice was well-received on TikTok, with users expressing their thanks amid the ongoing UK heatwave. One person commented: "Omg I had no idea. We always put our dog in our unheated pool when it gets hot out thinking we were helping. Thank you for this."

Another thanked: "Very important information. Thank you for sharing," and another user noted: "That's good to know."