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RSPCA urges pet awareness during latest heatwave
The RSPCA is concerned that pet owners may be caught unprepared for the latest heatwave.

The charity has seen a surge in pet advice searches.

The RSPCA is urging pet owners to be vigilant about pet safety during high temperatures, as it sees an increase in people searching for pet advice in hot weather.

The warning comes as the UK enters a late summer heatwave, with many places expected to see temperatures of 25 degrees or more.

The weather has prompted an increase in visitors to the charity’s hot weather advice, with its advice page about the dangers of dog walks in the heat seeing a 77 per cent increase in readers from January- August this year, compared to the same period in 2022.

The RSPCA also saw an 11 per cent increase in readers about heatstroke in dogs and 2.3 per cent more readers about dogs dying in hot cars.

However the welfare charity remains concerned that some pet owners may be caught unprepared for the latest heatwave, with its rescue centres receiving hundreds of reports related to heat exposure during each period of hot weather.

Reports have involved dogs left in hot cars, pets with heat burns on their paws from the pavement and dehydrated animals.

The RSPCA is asking pet owners to take note of its guidance to be prepared to keep their pets safe during periods of high temperature.

This includes raising awareness of its recent ‘Dogs Die on Hot Walks’ campaign, which reminds dog owners of the dangers of walking dogs in hot weather with the guidance ‘if in doubt, don’t go out’.

It also advises members of the public to keep alert for any pets or wildlife that may be affected by the hot weather. The RSPCA is reminding people to call 999 immediately if they see a dog in distress in a hot car.

RSPCA dog welfare expert Esme Wheeler said: “By following our top tips for keeping pets cool, as well as familiarising themselves with the signs of heatstroke in pets, owners will be taking responsible steps to keeping their animals safe this week.

“With just a few simple tweaks to their routine, animal lovers can really make a huge difference to pets’ comfort during the hot weather, and in some cases, may well be saving their lives.”

Image © Shutterstock

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."