As the Met Office has issued an Amber warning for extreme heat from Sunday onwards pet owners are urged to protect their pets from overheating and heat stroke.

Here are some top tips from the Blue Cross on how to help your furry friends:

• Walk your dog in the early morning or evening when it’s cooler and avoid strenuous games that will get their body temperature up.
• Make sure your pet has access to plenty of clean water at all times. Pay particularly attention to older animals, particularly cats, because they’re even more vulnerable to dehydration.
• If it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for their paws. If your dog needs a long walk to burn energy, but it’s too hot, find other ways to stimulate them.
• Light-coloured cats and dogs can get sunburnt, which can be painful and lead to skin cancer, so keep sunbathing pets indoors when the sun is strongest. You can also apply a non-toxic human sunscreen or one specifically for pets to vulnerable areas like their ears and noses.
• Pets with thick fur will need regular grooming and even a summer trim to help keep them cooler – a professional groomer can help with that.
• If you’ve got smaller pets like guinea pigs and rabbits, make sure their hutches and runs are in shady areas and make sure they are clean at all times with plenty of water topped up throughout the day.
• Make ice cubes with your pet’s favourite treat inside. 
• Fill a paddling pool with cool water in the garden for dogs to play in.
• If you suspect your animal is suffering from heatstroke, remove them to a cool place, dampen their coat with tepid water on a towel and contact a vet immediately. Be careful not to over-cool them, especially if they’re smaller pets.