The dog breeds at the greatest risk of suffering heatstroke in hot weather have been revealed by experts.
A heatwave has hit the UK this week, but the soaring temperatures can prove fatal for dogs, putting them at greater risk of heart failure, and serious injury and death.
Dog owners have been advised by vets and the RSPCA to refrain from walking their pets in the heat.
They say even short walks can increase the risk of illness.
READ MORE: How to care for your cats and dogs on hot sunny summer days
Nine dog breeds in particular are at an increased risk of heatstroke, according to experts.
Purebred dogs have twice the risk of crossbreeds, but the nine dog breeds most at risk are varied, reports BirminghamLive.
Chow chow dogs lead the way, with 17 times greater risk, followed by the bulldog at 14 times more likely to suffer heatstroke.
French bullog and French mastiffs complete the top five with greyhounds, followed by King Charles spaniels, pugs, English springer spaniels, and then golden retrievers.
Emergency animal care provider Vets Now also warned rising temperatures could increase the risk of heat stroke in dogs.
The vet service sees a spike in callouts as the weather warms up and has warned that temperatures above 20C put dogs at risk, and that survival rates for dogs with heat stroke is just 50pc.
One devastated pet owner spoke out this week saying her French bulldog had tragically died after a brief walk - despite showing no signs of illness after the walk was completed.
