As temperatures soar - think of your furry friends and how best to keep them safe in the sun
Dogs especially can find themselves in danger from the heat as canine temperatures are much higher than humans so they can find themselves at risk of heatstroke during very hot periods and cats are also in peril.
So as the heat is poised to rise close to Mediterranean temperatures over the coming week it's important to keep our pets cool and safe. Stock image – Domestic cat.
And the professional veterinary team at Village Vets in County Meath have compiled some vital life saving tips for keeping pets safe: Never leave pets in cars, even for a few minutes. Temperatures inside can soar dangerously fast. Pic: Shutterstock
2. Cats love the sun but can get sunburn, especially white-haired cats. Apply pet-safe factor 50 suncream to their ear tips and limit sunbathing during peak heat.
3. Keep pets cool indoors by providing plenty of fresh water, leaving windows open, and drawing curtains. PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 01: Dogs and their owners cool off from the heat in a fountain in front of Saint-Eustache Church in central Paris on July 01, 2025 in Paris, France. (Photo by)
4. Walk dogs early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid the midday sun.
5. Set up a paddling pool with ice for dogs to cool down and play.
6. Aviary birds need shade if kept under glass or in sunny spots. Pic: Lidl
7. Groom thick-coated pets to help them stay cooler.
8. Outdoor rabbits need shelter in shaded areas and protection from sudden temperature changes.
9. Encourage cats to eat wet food for extra hydration.
10. Organise gentle water games for dogs that enjoy them. 30.04.2025. . Weather pictures. (LtoR) Lisa Clarke and her dog Lily from Clontarf enjoying the sunshine on Dollymount Stand, Dublin. Photo SAM BOAL/Collins Photos
11. Watch short-nosed breeds closely, as they overheat quickly — keep walks short and offer plenty of shade and water.
12. Signs of heatstroke include vomiting, pale gums, panting, collapse, and distress. If you notice any of these, cool your pet with cold water and contact your vet immediately. Pic: Village Vets
13. In an emergency, or if you are in any way worried about your pet, call your nearest veterinary clinic.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Extra.ie
7 hours ago
- Extra.ie
As temperatures soar - think of your furry friends and how best to keep them safe in the sun
With temperatures set to soar this week finding creative ways to keep cool, in a heatwave can often be an impossible task, especially for our four legged family members. Dogs especially can find themselves in danger from the heat as canine temperatures are much higher than humans so they can find themselves at risk of heatstroke during very hot periods and cats are also in peril. So as the heat is poised to rise close to Mediterranean temperatures over the coming week it's important to keep our pets cool and safe. Stock image – Domestic cat. And the professional veterinary team at Village Vets in County Meath have compiled some vital life saving tips for keeping pets safe: Never leave pets in cars, even for a few minutes. Temperatures inside can soar dangerously fast. Pic: Shutterstock 2. Cats love the sun but can get sunburn, especially white-haired cats. Apply pet-safe factor 50 suncream to their ear tips and limit sunbathing during peak heat. 3. Keep pets cool indoors by providing plenty of fresh water, leaving windows open, and drawing curtains. PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 01: Dogs and their owners cool off from the heat in a fountain in front of Saint-Eustache Church in central Paris on July 01, 2025 in Paris, France. (Photo by) 4. Walk dogs early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid the midday sun. 5. Set up a paddling pool with ice for dogs to cool down and play. 6. Aviary birds need shade if kept under glass or in sunny spots. Pic: Lidl 7. Groom thick-coated pets to help them stay cooler. 8. Outdoor rabbits need shelter in shaded areas and protection from sudden temperature changes. 9. Encourage cats to eat wet food for extra hydration. 10. Organise gentle water games for dogs that enjoy them. 30.04.2025. . Weather pictures. (LtoR) Lisa Clarke and her dog Lily from Clontarf enjoying the sunshine on Dollymount Stand, Dublin. Photo SAM BOAL/Collins Photos 11. Watch short-nosed breeds closely, as they overheat quickly — keep walks short and offer plenty of shade and water. 12. Signs of heatstroke include vomiting, pale gums, panting, collapse, and distress. If you notice any of these, cool your pet with cold water and contact your vet immediately. Pic: Village Vets 13. In an emergency, or if you are in any way worried about your pet, call your nearest veterinary clinic.
RTÉ News
14 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Wildfire forces closure of France's Marseille airport
A wildfire that broke out near Marseille in southern France forced the closure of Marseille Provence airport, a spokesperson there said. Planes have not been taking off or landing since around midday and some flights have been diverted to Nice, Nimes and other regional airports, the spokesperson added. The fire that led to the temporary closure of the airport, which is located 27 kilometres northwest of Marseille, is being fanned by winds of up to 70 kilometres per hour. The fire could be smelled in the centre of Marseille, a resident said, with smoke covering parts of the city. A forest fire blazed in southern France, after it crept across an area the size of 2,000 rugby pitches of trees, causing an autoroute to Spain to close temporarily and residents to evacuate their homes. The fire, one of several in the area in recent days, started on the property of a winery south of the city of Narbonne yesterday afternoon, then spread rapidly due to wind and parched vegetation after a heatwave. More than 1,000 firefighters battled the flames overnight, but by the morning it had partially damaged 4,900 acres of land and was still going strong, local authorities said. Local official Christian Pouget said six homes had been partially affected, adding that "the fire has still not been brought under control". "The fire is spreading," the Marseille municipality said on social media site X. "Avoid all outdoor activities and do not block emergency access routes. Follow instructions and alert messages." In the village of Prat-de-Cest, trees were blackened or still on fire, while French weather service Meteo France said the risk of fires "remained high". Authorities closed the A9 autoroute to Spain, but said they were progressively reopening the route to traffic. Meteo France said this weekend that a heatwave that began on 19 June had officially ended on Friday, lasting in all 16 days - the same length as the country's deadly 2003 heatwave. That same day, however, the first major fires of the season broke out in the south. Scientists say human-induced climate change is increasing the intensity, length and frequency of the extreme heat that causes some forest fires. Greece shuts Acropolis for part of day as heat soars, bans outdoor work It comes as Greece shut the Acropolis for several hours, as the Mediterranean country endures its second major heatwave of the season, with temperatures set to soar as high as 41C. Last week, large parts of western Europe sweltered in a severe heatwave that left eight dead and triggered forest fires and health alerts across the region. With hot air and humidity worsening conditions, authorities ordered some businesses in Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city, and other areas on the mainland and southern Peloponnese peninsula, to limit outdoor work for employees in the afternoon. Builders, food delivery riders, couriers and shipyard workers are among those having to pause work from midday until 5pm to avoid heat stress, the labour ministry said. The heatwave conditions will continue until tomorrow, the Greek meteorological service said. Authorities in the wider Athens and other areas will be on alert for wildfires as gale-force winds are expected. Greece, which sits on Europe's southernmost edge, also had its warmest winter and summer last year on record, including a 16-day heatwave in July, the longest ever, according to scientists.
Extra.ie
2 days ago
- Extra.ie
Wave goodbye to the rain -- there's a heatwave coming to Ireland
Stop looking out the window at those leaden skies and wondering where summer went – there's a heatwave on the way. A prolonged period of blistering sunshine and blue skies is on the cards for this week, Met Éireann predicts. The forecaster is predicting temperatures will reach a sweltering 26C. Met Éireann defines a heatwave as 'five consecutive days of temperatures above 25C' – and it looks like we could hit that mark, or surpass it, this week, according to the latest weather charts. Current forecasts, which are subject to change, indicate a gradual rise from the low 20s at the start of this week to much hotter temperatures. Today, we will see spells of sunshine, though it will be cloudier in north Connacht and Ulster with isolated showers. Stop looking out the window at those leaden skies and wondering where summer went – there's a heatwave on the way. Pic: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin Highest temperatures of 14C in the northwest, rising to 23C in the southeast in moderate winds, are expected. However, there will be a small blip tomorrow as it will be largely cloudy, with patches of light rain and drizzle spreading over the western half of the country while remaining dry further east. On a happier note, the highest temperatures will vary between 17 and 22C in light to moderate west-northwest winds. Wednesday will start cloudy but brighten up through the day with spells of sunshine developing and temperatures rising to 23C, warmest in the south, in a light to moderate westerly breeze. It will be another dry day on Thursday with sunny spells, though scattered showers will develop through the day. It will be 'very warm' with the highest temperatures of 20 to 25C in a light southwest or variable breeze. Stop looking out the window at those leaden skies and wondering where summer went – there's a heatwave on the way. Pic: Shutterstock Although remaining dry at first on Friday, the weather will become more unsettled over the weekend with outbreaks of rain spreading from the Atlantic, and possibly blustery conditions at times. Saturday and Sunday are expected to be the hottest days, potentially rising to 27C. Met Éireann said this week 'is showing a slight signal for high-pressure building', which indicates more settled weather. It added: 'Temperatures are indicating to be above average for this time of year. Precipitation is likely to be below average, especially in parts of the southwest and west.' Meanwhile, scorching temperatures on mainland Europe are not deterring Irish tourists from travelling, travel agents have found. Temperatures have surged past 44C in parts of Spain, Portugal, Italy, and France. Europe is currently experiencing an extreme heatwave known as a 'heat dome', resulting in unbearable temperatures. Pic: LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images) Portugal and Spain recorded their hottest June ever. Scientists said the extreme temperatures in the region were related to a 'heat dome' over continental Europe. This is an area of high pressure that becomes stuck in place over a region because the atmospheric dynamics around it block it from moving. Mary Denton, chief executive of Sunway Travel, said they 'haven't received queries from customers asking to re-arrange their holiday dates or cancel due to the temperatures at their destination'. Ms Denton added: 'We have a lot of people due to travel this weekend [and] most of our customers will be going to Spain, Portugal, Turkey and Morocco. 'People are paying attention to what's going on around the world, but it isn't dampening enthusiasm for summer holidays. 'Holiday resorts and hotels are well prepared, and once customers are sensible and follow local advice, they will enjoy their time away.'
