Quick tips for owners

■ Avoid walking or doing activities either indoors or outdoors with your dog at the hottest times of the day, so early morning or later in the evening is often best.

■ Always take plenty of water with you when out with your dog and make sure they have access to fresh water at home at all times.

■ Tarmac can get very hot in the sun – check it with your hand before letting your dog walk on it so they don’t burn their paws. Try the “five-second test” – if it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws.

■ If you cannot avoid taking your dog out in the car on a hot day, even if travelling a short distance, avoid travelling during the hottest times of the day.

■ Never leave your dog in a vehicle on a warm day. Not even with the window open.

■ Use a cooling mat or wrap an ice pack or frozen water bottle in a tea towel for your pet to lie on if they wish.

■ Use cold treats from the fridge for added moisture or make an ice lolly from pet-friendly ingredients.

■ Don’t let your pet get sunburnt – use pet-safe sun cream.

■ Know the early signs of heatstroke which include panting, difficulty breathing, tiredness, less keen to play, drooling and vomiting, and take immediate action.

■ Dogs Trust also advises that dogs should never be left alone in cars as even just a few minutes in a hot car can prove fatal. On a 22C day, the temperature inside a car could rise by 11C in just 10 minutes and, as dogs can’t cool down the same way as humans, the heat can quickly become dangerous for them.