Temperatures to again hit highs of 24 degrees as pet owners urged to take precautions due to the heat

Irish Independent

16-05-2025

It will be another warm and dry day today with plenty of sunshine before a chill sets in overnight, with temperatures dropping from as high as 24C to as low as 4C tonight.
Veterinary Ireland's deputy chief executive Peter Bishton has advised pet owners to remember the acronym 'WAVES' as the sunny spells continue, which stands for 'water, ventilation and shade'.
While hydration is crucial, he said there are a number of water-based risks from algae poisoning to drowning to keep in mind when giving in to the temptation for your dog to 'cool down by taking a splash in a river lake or pond'.
"Before letting your dog jump in, please check the water. Where algae are growing in the water or are visible on the shoreline, there may be an increased risk of algae poisoning - algae can produce toxins which may be lethal to dogs. Should your dog swallow any algae, please consult your vet immediately,' Mr Bishton said.
'Even if the water is safe from algae, when throwing anything into a river or lake for your dog to fetch, please be aware that there is the potential for drowning.'
The risk of drowning increasing during the summer months due to a higher rate of exhaustion or from cooling down rapidly, while he also urged owners to ensure that any space is kept at a comfortable temperature for their pet as they cool down through panting.
Flat-faced breeds such as Pugs, Bulldogs or Pekingese, are specifically at-risk during summer months as selective breeding has created respiratory problems in many of these breeds.
"Shade is critically important, as dogs and cats can also suffer from sunburn. Ears, noses, paw pads, and areas where the fur is thinner, such as on the stomach, can all get burnt in the summer sun,' he said.
A dog's exercise should be timed for the cooler parts of the day, while the overall age and health of the pet should be considered as any existed condition can be exacerbated by the summer weather.
Those in the midlands today should keep the tips in mind today as those counties will get the warmest conditions throughout the day today, with temperatures of 17C to 24C expected throughout the country.
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Dry weather will continue overnight with lows of 4C to 9C expected.
Tomorrow will follow a similar pattern of dry conditions with plenty of sunshine and highs of 17C along the east coast, though temperatures will be much warmer in the west – hitting highs of 24 or 25C.
Saturday night will also be dry with lows of 5 to 10C expected.
Met Éireann has said the outlook for the coming days shows mostly dry, warm and settled conditions with warmest weather in the west.
Another dry day with good spells of sunshine is expected for Sunday as temperatures will, again, hit highs between 17C to 24 or 25C.
Monday will continue to follow this pattern of good weather with dry and sunny spells with highs of 16C to 23C.
Current indications from Met Éireann show Tuesday to Thursday next week will also be largely dry with good sunny conditions, though the spell may be broken by a few possible showers.
Temperatures are likely to range from the mid-teens to the low twenties.