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Weather forecast launched for dog owners
"We need to adapt our dog walking routines and general pet care behaviours to meet increasing temperatures" – Brian Faulkner.

The digital tool shows when the temperature is too hot for a dog walk.

A new online weather forecast, the Weather Furcast, has been launched by Petplan to help dog owners in the UK decide when to walk their dogs during hot weather.

The interactive digital tool shows in real time whether the temperature in each region is likely to be safe for walking a dog.

Owners can search for different locations and check whether the weather is safe for dogs of different sizes, with special advice for brachycephalic breeds, which find it harder to regulate body temperature.

The forecast uses a traffic light system to guide dog owners. A green paw signals that it is safe to take a dog for a walk. An amber alert suggests that owners show caution and test the heat of pavement with the back of their hand to check that it’s safe. A red paw tells owners to avoid going out as the temperature could seriously harm their dog.

Alongside the forecast, the web page also contains an online guide for looking after pets in hot weather, covering topics such as how to keep them hydrated, how to protect them from sunburn, and how to respond to insect bites and stings.

A survey of UK dog owners, carried out by GenPop earlier this summer, revealed that although 62 per cent of owners were confident they knew exactly when it was safe to walk their dogs in summer, just 25 per cent identified 23 degrees Celsius as being the temperature at which they should start exercising caution.

Brian Faulkner, veterinary surgeon and Petplan spokesperson, said: “Pet owners across the country have the best intentions when it comes to summer petcare, but in the UK, we’re not yet accustomed to the higher summer temperatures we often now see.

“Despite a summer of intermittent sunshine, owners still need to exercise caution, as even overcast, cloudy weather can be hazardous for dogs. We need to adapt our dog walking routines and general pet care behaviours to meet increasing temperatures, and Petplan’s new Furcast tool aims to help take uncertainty out of the equation.”

 

Images (C) Shutterstock and Petplan

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Prof Joanne Webster elected as Fellow of the Royal Society

News Story 1
 Joanne Webster, a professor of parasitic diseases at the RVC, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS).

An infectious disease expert, Prof Webster is known for promoting a One Health approach to disease control.

She completed her doctoral research in zoonotic disease and parasite-host interactions, and has since earned widespread recognition for contributions to parasitology and global health.

Prof Webster said: "I am truly honoured, and somewhat stunned, to be recognised alongside such an exceptional group of scientists." 

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News Shorts
Germany FMD import restrictions eased

The UK government has lifted the import restrictions placed on FMD-susceptible commodities from Germany.

The decision comes after the country was recognised as foot-and-mouth disease free without vaccination on 14 May.

Imports of FMD-susceptible animals and their by-products from Germany were originally banned, after the country reported a case of FMD near Brandenburg in January. In March, the UK government permitted imports from outside of the outbreak zone.

Germany will now be able to import FMD-susceptible animals and their by-products into the UK, providing they meet other import conditions.

The decision follows rigorous technical assessment of measures in Germany. Defra says it will not hesitate respond to FMD outbreaks.