I’m a dog expert – here’s why you should avoid users ball-throwers this summer

Dog owners should avoid using ball throwers, taking their pets on bike rides or to the beach on hot summer days, the RSPCA has warned.

Summer vacations often include bike rides, where a dog runs alongside a cycling family.

But on hot days, according to the RSPCA, this can dangerously increase dogs’ risk of heatstroke, as can using a trendy ball-throwing device, which propels a ball farther so a dog can travel greater distances in hot temperatures.

It’s because evidence from vets suggests that dogs are now more likely to die on hot walks than in hot cars.

Esme Wheeler, dog welfare specialist at the RSPCA, said: ‘Often we see well-meaning people running with their dogs, cycling with their dogs running alongside or using a ball launcher to launch balls for their dogs in hot weather, but this can cause beloved pets to pant profusely and run a serious risk of overheating.”

Fashionable ball launchers allow dog owners to throw balls three times farther than they could by hand.

Particularly sophisticated machines can send a ball up to 30 feet away, forcing a dog to run a long distance.

But any strenuous exercise in hot weather can pose a risk.

The RSPCA says older dogs with overweight and flat faces, as well as those with thick fur or in “dog clothes,” are at particular risk of overheating if they run or walk for too long in hot summer weather.

Dogs are often “ball-obsessed,” so they tend to endure physical discomfort, rather than stopping to recover.

There is also a concern that chasing distant balls for too long can put stress on their joints.

The RSPCA says running and cycling with dogs, who have to push themselves to keep up, also increases the risk of overheating, which can cause dogs to pant, stumble, vomit or collapse.

In the UK, about one in seven dogs affected by heat-related illness die.

Days at the beach or park can keep dogs in the heat for too long, according to the charity, which tries to encourage dog owners to walk their dogs at dawn and dusk, when it’s cooler.

There is no specific temperature at which dogs should not be exercised, as dogs’ vulnerability to hot weather can vary based on their breed, size, age and health.

But charities are advising owners to ‘when in doubt, don’t go out’.

It’s not just running, but also walking or simply being outside for too long in hot weather that can be harmful to dogs.

While the message “dogs die in hot cars” seems to have gotten through to the public, the slogan “dogs die on hot walks” only became known last year after decades of repetition.

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) surveyed 481 vets after last year’s hot summer and found more than four times as many dogs got sick from hot walks compared to hot cars.

The results, which were revealed for the first time, show that nine per cent of vets had seen at least one dog suffering from heat after being left in a hot car, but 38 per cent had seen at least one dog suffer. from heat after walking or exercising in hot weather.

The RSPCA’s advice to avoid hot walks, which can be a ‘silent killer’, is supported by a coalition of animal charities including the BVA, Royal Veterinary College, PDSA and Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.

Miss Wheeler said: ‘Training dogs in hot weather can pose a huge risk to our beloved animals and can be just as deadly as leaving them in a hot car.’

If a dog shows signs of heat stroke, the owner should stop exercising the pet, place him in the shade and place him in room temperature water, or pour it over him while giving small amounts of cold water to drink.

Ice cold water should not be used and a vet should be called immediately.