Page 58 • The HERALD • 17th July 2025 v THE NEXT HERALD IS OUT ON 7TH AUGUST v Victoria: 07503 813594 Daniel: 07584 534818 SELF SERVICE DOG WASH 7 days a week 8am-8pm 189 Long Lane, SO45 2PA Forestsidegrooming.co.uk ANIMAL MAGIC Vets Issue Advice For Pet Owners As Temperatures Rise e British Veterinary Association (BVA) is urging pet owners to take extra precautions during summer heatwaves to keep their animals safe and to act quickly if they spot early signs of heatstroke. Each year, vets across the country report seeing large numbers of cases involving pets who require treatment for heat-related conditions such as heatstroke, burnt paw pads, sunburn and breathing di culties, some of which can sadly be fatal. Dogs may particularly struggle to stay cool in high temperatures and humid conditions since, unlike humans, they are unable to cool down quickly through sweating, making them vulnerable to overheating. Even a very short walk in the middle of the day or being locked in a car for a few minutes can prove to be fatal. Flat-faced breeds such as English or French bulldogs and pugs are at even greater risk, as their short muzzles can make breathing di cult, and therefore they struggle to cool down through panting, which is a dog’s main way to cool its body temperature. Overweight animals and densely coated animals are also at increased risk. Like dogs, rabbits and guinea pigs cannot sweat or pant to regulate their body temperature and cool down, which is why it’s important that their hutch or run isn’t exposed to direct sunlight at any time of the day. British Veterinary Association President Dr Elizabeth Mullineaux said: “Each summer, vets see pets suffering from heat-related problems and illnesses, such as heatstroke, breathing problems, burnt paw pads and sunburn. Unfortunately, these can often be fatal. With heat warnings in place, make sure your animals have access to fresh drinking water, good ventilation and shade from direct sunlight at all times. When it comes to walking or exercising dogs, don’t take them out during the heat of the day- stick to early morning or late evening walks- and never leave them inside a car, caravan or conservatory even for a little while. If you’re concerned about your pet’s health, contact a vet as quickly as possible as heat-related illnesses can be fatal. It’s important to recognise early signs of heatstroke as quick action could save your pets’ lives. In dogs, signs include heavy panting, drooling, restlessness, bright red or very pale gums, and lack of coordination. Signs of heatstroke in rabbits include drooling, salivating, lethargy, short and shallow breaths, red and warm ears, wet nose and seizures. If you suspect heatstroke, take your pet to a cool, wellventilated place, give it small amounts of cool (not ice-cold) water to drink if possible, and pour room-temperature water over it to cool it down, before contacting your vet.” BVA has shared the following top tips to keep pets safe in the heat: • Make sure all pets always have access to fresh water to drink, adequate ventilation and shade from direct sunlight at all times. Provide them with a cool mat and fan and keep frozen water bottles covered in towels in their living space. For rabbits and guinea pigs, you can provide extra shade by covering the top of wire mesh runs with damp towels. Lightly misting rabbits’ ears with cold water is also an e ective way to help cool them, as long as this doesn’t stress them. • Don’t exercise dogs in the hottest parts of the day: especially older dogs, overweight dogs, at-faced breeds or dogs that you know have heart or lung problems. Stick to early morning or late evening walks. • Do the ve-second tarmac test before taking a dog out for a walk- put your palm at on the tarmac for ve seconds, and if it feels too hot for you, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws. • Never leave dogs in vehicles. If you see a dog in distress inside a hot car, call 999. • Watch out for early signs of heatstroke, such as heavy panting, drooling, restlessness, bright red or very pale gums, and lack of coordination. Signs of heatstroke in rabbits include drooling, salivating, lethargy, short and shallow breaths, red and warm ears, wet nose and seizures. • If heatstroke or any other heat-related condition is suspected, take your pets to a cool, well-ventilated place, give it small amounts of cool (not ice-cold) water to drink, and pour roomtemperature water over it to cool it down. Seek immediate advice from your vet. • Spare a thought for wild animals. Keep out shallow bowls of water for wildlife such as birds and hedgehogs. Smile, You’re Watching Kestrel Cam! For anyone feeling sad that BBC’s Springwatch has ended, the Hawk Conservancy Trust is bringing more wildlife joy with the launch of a new Kestrel Cam and eagle-eyed or, in this case, kestrel-eyed viewers can capture precious moments happening within a nest, as parents tend to their chicks. Visitors to the Hampshire-based bird of prey charity’s YouTube channel can now follow the nest-life of an expectant Kestrel couple with a special webcam streaming a live feed. e webcam has been carefully installed at a secret nesting location in Hampshire which is part of the Hawk Conservancy Trust’s conservation and research e orts supporting Kestrels – a species now on the Birds of Conservation Concern (BoCC) Amber List in the UK as the population continues to decline for reasons not wholly understood. e webcam initiative hopes to raise awareness, appreciation and ultimately vital funds as part of the Trust’s campaign to raise £60,000 during 2025 - the sixtieth year that the charity’s site near Andover, has been working with wildlife. Hawk Conservancy Trust CEO Penny Smout said: “This incredible opportunity to watch the life of nesting Kestrels is a direct result of our work with species out in the countryside. The webcam is within one of the hundreds of nest boxes we’ve installed as part of our Raptor Nest Box Project which provides nesting opportunities to encourage breeding while allowing monitoring work aimed at identifying the causes of such worrying population decline”. Penny went on to explain that the Trust is hoping that people’s enjoyment of the live streaming will lead to even more admiration for these stunning birds and a desire to support the Trust in its quest to identify practical solutions to help combat di cult issues: “While tackling factors such as loss of habitat, decreasing prey populations, agricultural chemicals and a lack of suitable nesting sites is complex, helping us doesn’t have to be. It can be as simple as enjoying the stream on YouTube and following the link to make a small donation or using our website to book a fantastic day out at our visitor centre where you can see magnificent birds of prey, including our Kestrel Ambassador, Scout, in our flying displays every day.” e Kestrel Cam is now live on YouTube and can easily be found by following the links on the Hawk Conservancy Trust’s website at www.hawk-conservancy. org together with details of the Raptor Next Box Project which helps several bird of prey species and has already seen the installation of 1600 nest boxes, around 400 of which are for Kestrels. Kestrel Cam can also be found by searching @ hawkconservancytrust on YouTube and anyone wanting to make a donation to help the charity reach its £60,000 target can do so via www.justgiving.com/campaign/ stopping-the-kestrel-decline A Kestrel family making good use of one of the nest boxes installed by the Hawk Conservancy Trust
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