THE scorching weather today (Tuesday) may be starting to wind down, but the heat will pick up in the coming weeks, and pet owners must ensure their animals are kept safe and healthy during heatwaves.

Empangeni SPCA provides some pointers on keeping animals safe during extreme heat, and how to safely walk your dog during the hot summer months.

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When the outside air temperature reaches 25 degrees Celsius, the ground can heat up to 50 degrees C or hotter.

This is hot enough to burn your dog’s paw pads and place them at serious risk of heatstroke.

Why it’s dangerous

• Dogs can’t cool down like humans can
• Hot pavements can scorch their paw pads
• High heat stresses their hearts and lungs
• Heatstroke can be life-threatening

What to do

• Walk early in the morning or in theevening
• Stick to shaded and grassy areas to keep their pads off the hot surfaces
• Always carry water
• Do the 5-second hand test on the pavement: if it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for their paws

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