Most dog owners have witnessed their pets diving into ponds and lakes to cool down when the weather is especially warm.
And while it seems highly logical to allow your four-legged friend to take a dip in a body of water to allow them to chill out a little - there are a number of things you should take into consideration before you let them off the leash.
Dr Caroline Goulton has recently urged dog owners to stay vigilant when it comes to allowing their dogs to cool off in the river at this time of year, and you should never - under any circumstances - allow them to go near certain bodies of water. Specifically, Dr Goulton detailed how you should make sure your dog doesn't swim in stagnant water when the weather is hot.
This is because the sticky temperatures can cause blue-green algae to 'bloom'. The Mirror reports that the vet from Guide Dogs, said: "Keep your dog out of stagnant water because of the risk of blue-green algae 'blooming' in the hot weather – gently flowing streams are a much better option for a paddle at this time of year."
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This algae can be potentially fatal to dogs should they ingest it, which they can do quite easily while swimming or cleaning themselves afterwards. The algae can produce potentially harmful toxins which will prevent a dog's liver from functioning properly - according to the Blue Cross.
And even if a pooch does manage to survive contact with the bacteria, they can be left with long-term health problems. Dr Goulton also said that should you take your dog to a river, you should be aware of how fast the current is moving. You should also ensure 'your dog can come back if called'.
The vet even shared her top tips for helping dogs cope in the heat - noting how heatstroke most commonly occurs in dogs when the temperature rises to over 25C. This can bring on symptoms like panting, excessive drinking, vomiting and even seizures in the worst cases.
She went on: "Even if you feel your dog is suffering from heat stroke or is too hot, you should never dunk or immerse them in cold water or hose them off. Cool them by spraying them with room temperature water (showers) or by wetting their coat with damp towels.
"Don’t leave the towels covering them, though and offer plenty of cool drinking water."
