UK pet owners warned of indoor heatstroke risk and poisonous garden plants

During a severe summer heatwave, experts caution that many UK households are unintentionally exposing dogs and cats to dangerous indoor temperatures. Surveys show 85% of owners admit putting their comfort before their pets, 73% do not provide extra water bowls, and 11% have left pets alone for whole days in hot rooms such as conservatories. Professional dog walker CJ Howe advises keeping blinds closed, offering fresh water with ice cubes, using cooling mats and walking pets early morning or late evening. “If a room feels stuffy to you, imagine sitting there all day wearing a fur coat,” he said. Engineers at BOXT recommend fans or air‑conditioning to prevent indoor heat buildup.

In parallel, pet nutrition expert Scott Cieslar warns owners to watch for five common summer garden plants that are toxic to animals: lilies (extremely dangerous to cats), foxglove (affects the heart), hydrangea (causes vomiting and diarrhoea), rhododendron (harms the digestive and nervous systems), and tulip/daffodil bulbs (dangerous if dug up and eaten). He urges keeping these plants out of reach and removing fallen foliage to reduce accidental ingestion.