Dog health warnings now
Two seasonal hazards are flashing red for dog owners: spring heat and polluted waterways. (Dogs Trust warned owners to avoid midday walks, provide water, and watch for heatstroke as temperatures near 25°C, while campaigners in Devon say pollution in the River Otter has been linked to dogs vomiting and becoming seriously ill after exposure.) (eveshamjournal.co.uk) (midweekherald.co.uk)
A dog can get into trouble on an ordinary spring day, not just in a summer heatwave. Dogs Trust says dogs can overheat at any time of year, and its advice for warm weather is to walk in the early morning or later in the evening, when the air and pavement are cooler. (dogstrust.org.uk) The pavement is part of the problem, not just the air temperature. Dogs Trust tells owners to do a five-second hand test on tarmac, because sun-heated pavement can burn paws even when the day only feels “warm” to a person in shoes. (dogstrust.org.uk) The warning in Britain this week came as temperatures were forecast to reach about 25 degrees Celsius, or 77 degrees Fahrenheit, in some places. Dogs Trust said owners should avoid the hottest part of the day, carry water, and make sure dogs can rest in shade. (eveshamjournal.co.uk) Heatstroke in a dog often starts with simple signs that are easy to miss on a walk. Dogs Trust lists heavy panting, excessive drooling, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhoea, and collapse among the symptoms owners should treat as urgent. (dogstrust.org.uk) Cars make the same problem much worse because the heat builds fast in a sealed space. Dogs Trust has separately warned there is no safe amount of time to leave a dog in a hot car, because temperatures inside can become dangerous within minutes. (northdevongazette.co.uk) At the same time, dog walkers in Devon are being told to think twice before letting pets enter the River Otter. The Midweek Herald reported that local vets are seeing increasing numbers of sick dogs, with campaigners blaming high bacteria levels in the river, especially after rainfall. (midweekherald.co.uk) That link with rain matters because heavy rain can wash contamination into rivers and can also coincide with sewage-related overflows. Campaigners in the Otter Valley say water testing has found sharp spikes in pollution in the River Otter after wet weather. (midweekherald.co.uk) The River Otter was already under scrutiny before this wave of dog illnesses. Local campaigners and Member of Parliament Richard Foord said in 2025 that the river’s middle and lower reaches were rated “poor” by the Environment Agency and were among the bottom 20 percent of rivers in England for water quality. (richardfoord.org.uk) For owners, the two warnings fit together in a very practical way: skip the midday walk, and be cautious about the tempting river stop that usually cools a dog down. On hot days after rain, the safest routine may be a shorter early walk, fresh drinking water at home, and no swimming in water you do not trust. (dogstrust.org.uk) (midweekherald.co.uk)
