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Irish Times
09-07-2025
- Climate
- Irish Times
Heat wave advice: How to look after your pet, garden and family in the hot weather
Ireland's summer is finally expected to kick into gear this weekend, with temperatures forecast by Met Éireann to reach highs of 21 to 28 degrees between Thursday and Sunday. Uisce Éireann has also announced that national water supplies are in drought status, with warnings in place for three areas of the country. 'Irish people get really excited when the weather gets good, but this means we are prone to overdo it,' says Dr Suzanne Kelly, deputy medical director of the Irish College of General Practitioners . Rather than leave the hosepipe running all weekend, follow these recommendations to take care of your pets, children and garden through the mini heatwave. READ MORE For pet owners: Walk your dog in the morning Peter Bishton, deputy chief executive of Veterinary Ireland, says pet owners should ensure their animals have enough fresh water, adequate ventilation and cool shade at all times. Exercising your pet under the hot sun or leaving them in a hot car could be very uncomfortable for them and even fatal. Dogs that are short nosed, naturally very active, have a thick coat and are older or younger are particularly at risk of overheating. Animal welfare experts recommend walking your dog in the early morning or evenings, when temperatures are cooler, and to watch out for signs of heatstroke. Dogs cool off in the river in Murr, southwestern Germany, in June as temperatures exceeded 32 degrees. Photograph: Thomas Kienzle/Getty Dogs and cats can get sunburned too. Pet sunblock – not human creams which can contain some chemicals toxic to animals – might be a good idea for white-haired pets that enjoy sunbathing. When cooling off in rivers, lakes and ponds, dogs are at risk of algae poisoning and secondary drowning from taking in water through the mouth. Bishton says that while it is rare 'the risk of drowning increases during the summer months, through a higher rate of exhaustion, or from cooling down too rapidly'. For the garden: Water plants twice a day – if allowed Luckily, the sunny spell this weekend is unlikely to harm most Irish household plants, says James Fennell, owner and manager of the kitchen gardens of Burtown House in Co Kildare. But to keep plants hydrated, Fennell advises gardeners to water plants twice a day in the morning and evening, and never in the middle of the day. However, gardeners should avoid using hosepipes over the weekend and stick to watering cans instead, says Uisce Éireann, as the water network is experiencing increased pressure on supplies. Residents in Mullingar, Milford, and Kells-Oldcastle are asked to pay special attention to water-conservation. For those with larger gardens with glasshouses or polytunnels, 'open them in the morning and leave them open all night because they become super hot,' Fennell says. Watering cans, rather than hoses, are best way to conserve supplies while giving plants a drink. File image. Photograph: Strelciuc Dumitru/Getty He and his team will be harvesting their produce more regularly as the warm weather encourages fast-paced growing. And now is the time to do large-scale weeding: 'The warm weather is a great time to hoe small weeds because they will die very quickly in the sunshine, meaning you can do it very quickly.' Fennell says his team will start planting root vegetables also: 'The soil will be so warm after the weekend that we will be germinating seeds straight into the soil – planting beetroots, carrots and root vegetables, but we'll need to keep a sprinkler on it constantly to make sure they get enough water.' If your plants do look particularly weary or dehydrated, place shallow trays filled with fresh water beneath the containers, group pots together for shelter and to slow down water loss. There is no need to water lawns that have turned brown in the sunshine as they will rebound quickly when more rain comes. For the family: Keep sipping water, but don't skimp on sunscreen Sunburn is the number-one risk facing Irish people this weekend, Dr Kelly says. 'We see Irish adults sunburned after good weather all the time. When there's a breeze, we won't be aware of the damage being done to our skin. 'Good suncreams are available at a reasonable price in most supermarkets – but we don't use enough of it or apply it frequently enough.' Dr Kelly advises for young children in particular to have a good layer of suncream in the morning before they go outside, wear full-body swim suits and have hats to cover ears and neck. Overheating is likely in young children and elderly who don't have good thermal regulation. Dr Kelly says they see more heart attacks in hot weather. Older people with risk factors and a medical history need to stay indoors during the hottest part of the day, keep hydrated and cover up. A woman drinks water to cool down as temperatures reach 40 degrees in Rome on July 1. Photograph: Antonio Masiello/Getty Those who head to the beach or parks and drink alcohol at the weekend also need to be careful as it doubles your risk of dehydration and sunburn from forgetting to reapply cream and falling asleep in the sun. To get the recommended 1.8 to two litres of water per day, Dr Kelly recommends having a large reusable bottle of water on you at all times and to keep sipping away at it. While pollen can spike when the sun is not shining, those with hay fever might experience more symptoms due to farmers cutting silage. Dr Kelly recommends over-the counter antihistamines or steroids for those more severely affected. For the farm: Schedule rest times to avoid fatigue Farmers face particular challenges during prolonged periods of hot weather, with crops and livestock potentially affected. However, 'on any farm, the person farming is the most important asset', Niall Madigan, head of communications at the Irish Farmers Association , says. 'The tillage harvest is under way and the motivation is to get through as much work as possible when the weather is so good. Our advice would be to schedule rest times and avoid fatigue setting in. 'The risks associated with working on a farm can increase if those on the farm are suffering from fatigue. We would ask farmers to keep farm safety to the forefront during their working day. 'Higher temperatures reinforce the importance of being sun smart. By the nature of their work, farmers are more exposed than most workers. Have a supply of sunblock with you and keep yourself covered.'
Irish Independent
16-05-2025
- Climate
- Irish Independent
Temperatures to again hit highs of 24C as pet owners urged to take precautions due to the heat
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', which stands for 'water, ventilation and shade'. While hydration is crucial, he said there were 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. ADVERTISEMENT 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.
Irish Independent
16-05-2025
- Climate
- Irish Independent
Temperatures to again hit highs of 24 degrees as pet owners urged to take precautions due to the heat
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. ADVERTISEMENT 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.
