Overview

• The Met Office has issued amber heat health alerts ahead of forecast peak temperatures of 33°C to 35°C this weekend, marking the UK’s third heatwave of the summer.
• New data from Vets Now indicates that dehydration comprised 67% of summer-related vet visits last year, far outpacing heatstroke cases at 8.75%.
• Veterinary experts warn that blue-green algae in lakes, ponds and garden features can prove fatal to pets by attacking the liver and nervous system with no known antidote.
• Police have begun seizing dogs found in hot cars under Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which criminalises causing unnecessary suffering to animals.
• Organisers across Oxfordshire have banned dogs from outdoor events under the heat alert and pet owners are advised to test pavements with a five-second hand test and use cooling bandanas to protect their animals.