As the Met Office predicts UK temperatures to reach above 30 degrees Celsius this week, the RSPCA is urging pet owners to help keep their pets safe and cool over the summer period.

The RSPCA has prepared a series of tips and guides, including DIY videos, on how to protect furry and feathered friends from the escalating heat.

With the anticipation of such high temperatures, concerns are brewing amongst pet owners and animal lovers about safeguarding animals through this hot spell.

RSPCA pet expert Dr Sam Gaines said: "We’re finally getting a spell of hot weather here in England and Wales which is great, but for our pets, it can be a different story.

"It’s important we do everything we can to keep them cool and comfortable while the heat is here, and we’re urging animal lovers to share our best tips to help."

Some of the advice from the RSPCA includes making frozen dog treats to help cool pets down and watching their handy video on keeping cats cool.

Pet owners should also ensure pets have constant access to shade and fresh drinking water, remembering that the sun moves, and shaded areas in the morning can bear the full brunt of the sun by the afternoon.

All animals, including small animals, poultry, and pets, should be checked twice a day for flystrike.

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Owners should also keep fish tanks out of direct sunlight, and keep pesticides out of reach.

Another tip was to encourage pet chickens to stay in shaded areas by hanging up a homemade vegetable garland for chickens.

Pet snakes, which become more active during hot weather, should be kept secure.

The RSPCA also recommend using pet-safe suncream, making sure guinea pigs are hydrated by making fresh vegetable treats and wrapping ice packs or a frozen water bottle in a tea towel for your pet to lie on.

You can also use cold treats from the fridge to add moisture, or even make a dog-friendly ice lolly.

They also say you can freeze your dog's water bowl, or add ice to the bowl.

Finally, they say to fill a paddling pool or spray a hose for your dog to play in.

Dr Gaines added: "It’s also a really helpful idea to support local wildlife too, by popping out some bowls of water to help birds, foxes and other wildlife."

The public can also help by taking care when using a lawnmower or strimmer.

Checking bonfires before burning garden rubbish as lizards, grass snakes, hedgehogs, and toads often seek refuge in heaps of garden refuse.

To ensure pond life stays hydrated, the RSPCA encourages topping up water levels and creating shaded areas for pond fish with aquatic plants.