Good afternoon and welcome to today's webchat. We are joined by Blue Cross Head Vet, Caroline Reay, who'll be giving you tips on how to keep your pet cool this summer. Let's start with some questions about dogs.

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Olly wants to know:

I've got an Afghan hound. Should I cut my dog's long coat to keep him cool in the summer sun or is that too extreme?

Caroline Reay said:

There are two schools of thought on this one. One is that the coat is an insulating layer that stops your dog from overheating. The other is that clipping will help to keep the dog cool. On balance, I think it's probably better to clip, although you will need to still take measures to stop your dog from overheating. That means keeping him cool and not over exercising in the heat of the day. Go for walks first thing and late at night and of course, never leave your dog shut in a car. But clipping coats makes it easier to take care of him when you're out and about in the summer, particularly when there's lots of grass seeds about that might get caught in the coat. Those long grass awns that get caught in the coat can sometimes get into the ears or get embedded in the paws and clipping the coat means it's easier to see and remove them.

Diane wants to know:

How much water should my dog be drinking on hot days?

Caroline said:

Your dog should have free access to water. If he's not drinking all of it, don't worry; he will be able to choose how much he needs. The only exception to this would be if your dog is drinking so much that it makes him sick straight away. If that is happening, give little and often. If he's being sick a lot, see your vet.

Frank wants to know:

I've got a young pug that's two. Is it ok to give him ice cream and ice chunks in summer? He seems to love it but I'm not sure if it's safe as the ice cream obviously contains sugar.

Caroline said:

It's fine, but you don't want to give too much. He's only a tiny dog, and you don't want him to get over weight. Pugs can sometimes be susceptible to respiratory problems because they have flat noses. If they are overweight, this can get really bad. Ice cubes are fine, but go easy on the ice cream! Our Torbay centre is using ice cubes with tuna in as treats for our cats, and you can do something similar for dogs.

Robert wants to know:

I want to take my dog to Ireland with me. Does he need to have any vaccinations before we take our trip?

Caroline Reay said:

The best advice is to check the DEFRA website www.defra.gov.uk for any vaccinations that he might need. As the Blue Cross is a charity, we don't normally deal with dogs that are going to travel abroad. He will certainly need to be up to date with his normal dog vaccinations for distemper, parvo virus etc.

More travel questions as Jane asks:

I want to take my dog to Cannes with me. Do I really need a passport for him? Will I need anything else?

Caroline said:

You need to plan travel abroad well in advance, which usually means 6 months in advance. Check out the DEFRA website www.defra.gov.uk for full details.

Debbie wants to know:

My dog gets snappy and temperamental when he gets hot. Is there anything I can soothe his mood?

Caroline said:

I think you need to look carefully and be sure that it's only when he is hot. Sometimes dogs like this can be difficult at other times and when it's hot, because we want to find a reason for their behaviour, we can mistakenly think that it's just because they're hot. How old is your dog? If he is getting old, then I should get him checked out by a vet, in case he's in pain or there is some other reason for his behaviour. If you are really sure that it's just the heat, then make sure that the areas where he is are well ventilated and shaded. Don't over exercise him so that he gets hot and bothered. However, if being grumpy is unusual for him and certainly if you have small children, you should really get him checked by your vet.

Ella wants to know:

I am trying to find a kennel to leave my dog in when I go on holiday but it so hard to choose one. It's the first time I've had to leave him on his own. Is there anything I should look for in particular when choosing one?

Caroline said:

I think the best advice is to go on personal recommendation from somebody who has used the kennel. It's best to make an unannounced visit to the kennel. Does it look clean? Are the dogs all well separated from each other? They shouldn't be able to make nose or paw contact. How many staff are there? Do the staff seem genuinely caring? And are you asked for lots of details about what your pet likes to eat etc? And finally, do they want all the vaccinations to be up to date? All reputable kennels will. Can the vet recommend anywhere, and do the kennels ask for the vet's number when you're booking the dog?

Now, it's time to take your cat questions. Pete wants to know:

Can I use human sun protection on my cat or do I need to buy a special cat version? If I do, where can I get it from and how often should I apply it? My cat is 5 and has brown fur.

Caroline Reay said:

If your cat has no white areas, you really don't need to worry. Only cats that have white areas and especially white ears or nose are susceptible to sunburn. This can become cancerous if left untreated. The best advice is to keep your pet indoors between 10am and 4pm. You can get special suncream for animals, and it's best to use that. Ask your vet. This, and lots of other tips are in our summer survival guide, which can be found at www.bluecross.org.uk

Helen wants to know:

Other than supplying water regularly is there any other way I can cool my cat down? Like all cats, she does not like water on her coat.

Caroline said:

Cats are less susceptible to heat stroke than dogs, but it can happen. You have to watch that your cat doesn't get shut in somewhere where it's really hot, like a greenhouse. Free access to water is important, particularly if the cat is older. It's very important that older animals don't get shut away without access to water. Make sure there is a shaded area in the garden. If your cat is panting then it's probably worth getting it checked out by the vet, because really, a normal cat shouldn't pant.

Lucy wants to know:

I've heard that you should groom your pets more frequently during the summer months? Does this help keep them cool? If so, how?

Caroline Reay said:

I've never heard that before! Maybe it's because people think that grooming will get rid of fleas.... It won't! You need to use a regular good quality flea control from your vet to do that. But I bet cats love being groomed on a sunny day!

Julia wants to know:

In this heat, are there any signs I should look out for to check if my pet has skin cancer?

Caroline said:

Really, only pets that have white areas on them are susceptible to skin cancer. If your pet has white ears, for example, look for reddening and swelling. If this is happening, get it checked by your vet.

Sam wants to know:

I live on a farm where I have two young pups that are constantly running around, full of energy. I am giving them loads of water but am worried that they will get dehydrated running around in this heat. Should I consider keeping them inside or tying them to a leash?

Caroline said:

So long as they have free access to water, they will drink if they need to. But it's probably best to provide some shade for them, and if things seem to be getting out of hand, maybe bring them indoors. Best not to tie them up, they might get tangled up and hurt themselves.

Fred wants to know:

I have a young Jack Russell and we enjoy going for long walks together. Should I cut this down on hot days or just go at different time?

Caroline said:

My advice would be to go out very early in the cool of the morning and to bear in mind that it does get hot very quickly when you're moving around. So it's probably a good idea to rest more often on a walk than you would normally and perhaps cut it a bit shorter. Going out late at night should be ok as well.

Geri wants to know:

Will my tortoise be OK in the garden in this heat or should I bring him inside in the cool?

Caroline said:

I've seen wild tortoises in Turkey moving happily around in the heat of the day. It's very natural for reptiles to like the heat, but it's also a good idea to make sure there is water available and fresh foods like strawberries or cucumber that have a high water content. And of course, provide some shade. You could also provide a bath for your tortoise.

Wendy wants to know:

We keep horses at our farm. Have you got any tips on how we can better look after them in this hot weather?

Caroline said:

Providing shelter to create shade is really important and also measures for fly control and of course, making sure that there is free access to water.

Pippa wants to know:

My cat used to be really fluffy and I've noticed its fur has gotten significantly thinner recently, could this be because of the heat?

Caroline said:

I would suggest you get your cat checked out by the vet. Hair production needs a lot of protein and sometimes it's a sign of illness if the hair coat is thinning. But it could just be a flea allergy. See your vet.

Patsy wants to know:

My daughter has pet rabbits – angora – that she keeps in a run in the garden, should I be taking any precautions with them in this heat?

Caroline Reay said:

Make sure there is some shade as rabbits are extremely susceptible to heat. Access to water is critical. If you're using a dropper bottle, check that it's not getting blocked up and don't forget that water evaporates more quickly in these temperatures. Rabbits are vulnerable to attacks by fly larvae. You should check your rabbit twice a day, particularly around the back end. Keep rubbish away so that flies aren't attracted. You can get fly repellents, which you can apply to your rabbit. Just ask your vet for more information.

Katy wants to know

My cat appears very drowsy in the hot weather – is this normal?

Caroline said:

So long as your cat is well in every other way, I would say that that is probably normal! If your cat is old, it's probably worth a check up at the vet, but it might be worth waiting until the hot weather is over, as a visit to the vet can be quite stressful in the heat. Phone your vet for advice first.

Tammy wants to know:

Can certain dogs be more dangerous in the summer due to the heat?

Caroline said:

Properly socialised dogs shouldn't be aggressive just because of the heat. But it probably makes things worse for dogs that are a bit inclined to snap, so be careful! Particularly as the kids are on school holidays and children are one of the biggest risk groups for dog bites. Always supervise children with dogs.

Ricky wants to know:

Any does and don'ts for travelling in a car with a pet this summer?

Caroline said:

It's best to travel at a cooler time of day and arrange some blinds to shade the car if it gets caught in traffic. Allow extra time for frequent stops and take plenty of water with you. You can get further tips from the summer survival guide at our website, which can be found at www.bluecross.org.uk