Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun but venturing out at that hour during a heatwave seems a special kind of folly. The sight of a dog struggling along in extreme heat can transform the meekest of souls into raging animal rights activists. People who lose little sleep over a pig in a factory farm will nevertheless smash a car window if they see a dog shut inside a car on a sweltering afternoon.

But even the most conscientious of dog owners struggle to stop their companions suffering during a heatwave. We spend chunks of the summer feeling broken-hearted and powerless as our sad dogs pant through yet another stifling day.

Dogs can’t choose their environment or fetch themselves a cold drink from the fridge as the thermometer hits 30 degrees. They rely on us to make them comfortable and prevent them from overheating, which can cause dehydration, gastric issues, overheated brains and burnt paws. Different breeds and ages suffer to varying degrees, but some, especially flat-faced breeds like bulldogs and pugs, giant breeds, thick-coated northern breeds, and elderly dogs, are particularly vulnerable. For some dogs, heatwaves are lethal. 

For some dogs, heatwaves are........

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