RSPCA explains whether giving your dogs ice cubes in the hot weather is safe

With temperatures soaring, it's important to keep your pets feeling cool and comfortable.

In the hot weather, your dogs can suffer from heatstroke within minutes. It occurs when a dog cannot reduce its own body temperature - and it can be deadly.

So it's vital that you avoid going for walks during hotter periods, keep your pets hydrated and in the shade when sitting outside.

But over the years, there has been a lot of speculation as to whether it's safe to give your dogs ice cubes in a heatwave.

And with so much information available, it's hard to know what you can and can't trust.

So we asked the experts at the RSPCA to debunk the issue.

It is safe to feed your dogs ice cubes (Daily Mirror)

Are we allowed to give our dogs ice cubes during a heatwave?

The answer is yes, and it's recommended.

Over the years, a number of pets owners have been cautious not to give their dogs ice cube, in fear that their belly will bloat - this is extremely dangerous in larger dogs especially.

But giving ice and other frozen goodies to dogs is safe, and can help to keep their temperatures down.  

A spokesman for the animal rescue charity said: “The RSPCA advises freezing a dog's water bowl or kong before putting water or fresh treats inside (to help keep them cool for longer). 

"We also advise putting ice cubes into your pet's water or making frozen treats to help cool them down." 

You could try adding a meat stock like chicken or beef to your ice cubes too.

But some vets fear that giving your dogs ice could lead to tooth damage.

Dr. Susan C. Nelson, a clinical professor at the Veterinary Health Center at Kansas State University said to  PetMD  : "The larger and harder the cube, the higher the chance of this occurring."

Offering dogs smaller cubes or even ice shavings can help prevent this problem.

How to keep your dog cool in the hot weather

To keep your pup as cool as can be as temperatures soar, the RSPCA has shared some top tips:

• Give your pet a damp towel to lay on, or an ice pack wrapped in a towel
• Fill a little paddling pool for them to splash around in
• Never leave your dog in a hot car, conservatory, outbuilding or caravan, even for just a moment - temperatures can reach a whopping 47C in these environments, which can result in death
• Apply pet safe sun cream on exposed parts of your pets skin like their nose and the tips of their ears to stop them from getting burnt