Dog owners across the UK are being warned not to make one common mistake as temperatures are forecast to soar towards a staggering 40°C this week.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!With the country braced for what could be one of the hottest spells on record, the RSPCA has issued urgent guidance to pet owners — and one piece of advice may surprise a lot of people.
Because while many people think grabbing a damp towel and throwing it over an overheated dog is the quickest way to cool them down, experts say it could actually do the opposite.
And in some cases, it could make things significantly worse.
The animal welfare charity has stressed that damp towels should never be placed directly over a dog’s body if they are overheating, warning that the method can trap heat and worsen the situation rather than relieve it.
On its website, the charity states: “Don’t place damp towels directly over the dog’s body, as this can trap heat and worsen their condition. You can place wet or damp towels beneath the dog – remembering to re-wet the towel frequently – but never over their body.”
It’s the kind of mistake many owners make with good intentions.
But during extreme heat, those small decisions can become critical.
The warning comes as the Met Office issued red and amber heat alerts across England and Wales, with forecasters predicting a ‘heat-dome’ over western Europe could send temperatures to 40°C in some areas on Wednesday and Thursday.
A red extreme heat warning has already been put in place from London stretching across to Swansea, Somerset and Birmingham.
And for dogs, the risk is serious.
Unlike humans, dogs cannot regulate their temperature by sweating. Instead, they rely heavily on panting — and once that system starts to fail, heatstroke can develop fast.
The RSPCA warns: “When a dog gets too hot and can’t lower its temperature by panting, it can develop heatstroke.”
It adds: “This can be fatal, so you need to act fast to reduce their body temperature first, then get help.”
That’s why the charity is urging owners to follow what it calls three simple steps during the heatwave: prepare, watch, and act quickly.
Preparation starts before your dog even leaves the house.
Owners are being advised to make sure their pets have constant access to shade, plenty of fresh water, and cool surfaces like grass rather than boiling pavements.
That last one matters more than many realise. The charity recommends the “pavement test” — placing the back of your hand on the ground for five seconds. If it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for paws.
And experts are urging people to rethink walks altogether during the hottest parts of the day.
According to RSPCA dog welfare expert Lauren Bennett, this is not the time for complacency.
She said, via the Manchester Evening News: “Planning ahead and being prepared in this hot weather can help save pets’ lives. Complacency can mean soaring temperatures are a silent killer for our beloved animals.”
She added: “We are reminding pet owners to keep a really close eye on their animals during this heatwave, skip the hot walks, and never ever leave their dog in a hot vehicle.”
That warning extends beyond cars too.
The RSPCA says hot trains, ferries and caravans can be just as dangerous.
And alarmingly, polling carried out on behalf of the charity in 2023 found only 58% of the public said they would not leave their dog inside a car on a warm day.
That statistic alone shows why the charity says this is a “critical time.”
Lauren Bennett continued: “We know that almost half of the public may still underestimate the danger, which is why now is the critical time to start your ‘pet homework’.”
Owners are also being told to keep an eye out for early warning signs of heatstroke.
Symptoms can include heavy panting, excessive drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea, confusion, weakness, noisy breathing, red gums, dehydration, muscle spasms and collapse.
Certain dogs are at even greater risk.
Flat-faced breeds like bulldogs and pugs, dogs with respiratory conditions, thick-coated breeds, puppies and older dogs are all more vulnerable to overheating.
As the RSPCA explains, younger and older dogs struggle more with temperature regulation.
And if heatstroke is suspected, acting quickly is everything.
The charity’s advice is simple: stop exercise immediately, move the dog into shade, offer small amounts of water, pour cool water over the body (avoiding the head), and create airflow using a fan or breeze.
Its guidance is blunt.
“Cool first, transport second. The longer the dog is overheated, the more damage it can cause to their health, possibly even killing them. Cool the dog immediately to improve their chances of recovery. Try to stay calm and think clearly. Stay focused on the dog and remind yourself that you are capable of saving a life.”
That phrase — cool first, transport second — could be life-saving this week.
The wider heatwave is already having an impact beyond pet welfare.
More than 3,000 people have signed a petition calling for enforceable fines for anyone walking dogs in temperatures above 23°C, while the British Horseracing Authority has cancelled four race fixtures due to the heat.
It underlines how serious conditions are becoming.
For dog owners, the message is clear: No midday walks, no leaving pets in vehicles, no ignoring the signs, and crucially — no throwing damp towels over your dog thinking it will help.
Because in weather like this, that “help” could end up doing far more harm than good.
Featured image credit: Pexels/尾 賀/Aibek Skakov (free to use)
