Learning how to cope in the heat can be a struggle, with the beaming rays of the sun, the inescapable humidity and the ever-rising temperatures tough to handle for many. With the Met Office forecasting a shift in weather patterns in the UK and a “warm plume” of air with highs of 30C heading our way, just imagine how your pet may be feeling. Domestic animals don’t have the luxury of being able to say when they’re feeling overheated or dehydrated, which is why you need to learn how to keep your pet as safe and healthy as possible during these extreme weather conditions. Whether you’re a dog person or own a reptile, this is how to look after your pet properly as the heatwave runs its course. Dogs Dogs with long fur will likely fare worse than their shorter-haired peers during the summer. However, they are able to cool themselves down by panting and releasing heat through their paws, as animal charity Blue Cross explains. Dogs do this because they’re unable to sweat through their skin in the same way as humans do. If a dog does overheat, they could be at risk of suffering from a serious heatstroke, with the charity explaining that “signs of heatstroke in dogs include collapse, excessive panting and dribbling”. “If you suspect your pet is suffering from the condition, move them to a cool place, preferably with a draught, wet their coat with cool - not freezing - water, and contact your vet immediately,” the charity advises. Furthermore, leaving a dog in a car on a hot day can have devastating consequences, as the temperature within the car can soar to extreme levels at a rapid rate, which is why it’s advised never to leave a dog in a car in hot conditions. To ensure that dogs are comfortable during walks on days with excessive heat, the RSPCA recommends only walking your dog in the morning or evening at the peak of summer, as doing so will help prevent them from burning their paws on the pavement or suffering from heatstroke. You must also make sure that your dog always has access to water. Cats Different types of cats may be more prone to sunburn than others, as pet agency Very Important Pets outlines. “Pale-coloured cats are vulnerable to sunburn; particularly on their ears, noses and sparsely haired areas,” the agency states, adding that, “like in humans, sunburn can sometimes lead to skin cancer.” While many cat owners may let their feline friends roam at will, the agency recommends keeping your cat indoors during the hottest time of the day, from around 11am until 3pm. You can even invest in a suncream designed specifically for pets to provide them with adequate protection from the sun’s rays. Having your cat’s fur trimmed could also be a good course of action in order to make them feel more comfortable in the heat. Furthermore, if you think that your cat may be feeling overheated, you can use a damp towel to cool them down. Just like with any other animal, cats shouldn’t be left in cars during a heatwave. Hamsters If you normally keep your hamster in a glass or plastic crate, you should be aware that the interior may be hotter than the average room temperature. This is important to keep in mind when considering where their crate is placed, as putting it on a window sill where it’s exposed to the sun could put your hamster at risk of overheating. Hamster blog site Hammysworld also suggests placing the crate on a stone or tiled floor during the day if possible in order to help the animals remain cool and comfortable. You could even place a ceramic tile within the cage as a means of lowering the temperature of the interior even more. Another trick that the outlet recommends is to place a frozen bottle of water on the side of the outside of the crate while also regularly refreshing your pet’s water supply. Fish You may think that your fish is safe in their tank of water as those outside battle the intense heat and humidity. However, the temperature of the tank can easily rise if the room temperature is higher than normal. If you have heaters in your fish tank, it would be wise to turn them off, Tropical Fish Site recommends, while it may also be worth reducing the normal temperature of the tank if possible. Another method that you can employ to help keep the water cool is to put bags filled with ice at the bottom of the tank. Birds While birds living in exotic locations around the world may be used to hotter climates, chances are that domesticated birds won’t have the same thresholds for higher temperatures. According to Bird Supplies, birds may be very susceptible to sudden changes in their environment, which is why knowing how to keep them cool during a heatwave is important. “Your average bird has a standard core temperature of around 105F or 40C, and are very susceptible to overheating,” the site states. Some signs to look out for that may indicate that your bird is overheating include if its panting, holding its wings far away from its body or exhibiting anxious behaviour. Many birds naturally enjoy spending time outdoors. However, if this is the case, you should make sure that the outdoor space that your bird frequents is equipped with shaded areas. On top of that, the site states that you should make sure to replace the bathing dish of water at the bottom of your bird’s cage at least once a day, while also ensuring that it has a decent supply of clean water to drink. Reptiles and amphibians Reptiles and amphibians are ectothermic or cold-blooded, which means that their body temperature relies on external sources, as detailed by Encyclopaedia Britannica. With that in mind, if the temperature of your home is higher than normal, then your pet snake or lizard could suffer in the hot conditions. Pet store Just For Pets advises first checking whether the temperature of your home falls within your animal’s ideal range. If the temperature exceeds its ideal range, then you can cool them down by providing them with clean water and keeping a small fan close by. Furthermore, you could utilise a similar technique to the one advised for hamster owners by placing a ceramic tile in its enclosure that it can use to lower its body temperature (that you could cool first in the fridge). Plus, if you place an iced bottle of water nearby, it could help reduce the temperature of the air, thus providing your pet with a more bearable environment.

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From considering his future on non-league Lincoln Moorlands Railway’s bench to Lionel Messi celebrating his goal, Inter Miami midfielder Robert Taylor’s story is something else. The eyes of the footballing world were focused on DRV PNK Stadium on Friday evening as the Argentinian magician began his new chapter Stateside. Messi’s Miami debut has been years in the making and proved worth the wait as he came off the bench to score a stunning free-kick winner against Cruz Azul in stoppage time. The 2-1 League Cup victory was a dream debut for the 36-year-old and a surreal moment for new team-mates like Taylor, who also played alongside Sergio Busquets for the first time. “It’s amazing, it’s great, of course I’m excited,” Taylor said. “He’s just come in and brought a lot of energy to the team. His play means he makes the right decisions all of the time in training and in the games which is why it’s so good. “It’s a great feeling. The way to win it as well. To witness that free-kick and the quality he brings to the team, it’s unbelievable.” The night was particularly special for Taylor, who said it was “pretty sick” to know Messi celebrated his thumping opener off a post. It is just the latest chapter in a scarcely believable rise for the Finland international, who played for top clubs in his homeland, Sweden and Norway after struggling to make an impact in England. The 28-year-old spent periods with Nottingham Forest, Barnet and Lincoln, from where he was farmed out on frustrating, fruitless loans to Boston Town and Lincoln Moorlands Railway. “If someone told me a few years ago when I sitting on the bench for Lincoln Moorlands that I’m going to play with Busquets and Messi I would have just laughed in their face,” Taylor said with a grin. “I was sitting on the bench, I wasn’t able to get any minutes in non-league and the coach told me I’m not strong enough or basically good enough. I was just sitting on the bench watching. “It tested me when I was younger. I was calling my parents back home in Finland and saying maybe I want to look for something, other options.” Taylor’s father Paul is an English former footballer who played for KuPS in Finland, where he still lives and he stayed up to watch the madness unfold out in Fort Lauderdale. It is a night that will live long in the memory but not one that Miami will be basking in the afterglow of for long given they are looking to bounce back from a poor Major League Soccer season. “Of course it’s an unbelievable feeling for everyone in the team but eventually we’ll have to get used to it and not get too emotional around it, we just have to focus on the game,” Taylor added. “I think everyone needs to enjoy the win but now we need to focus on the fact we’ve got Atlanta next.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Aston Villa bring in France winger Moussa Diaby from Bayer Leverkusen Brian Harman maintains five-shot lead heading into final round at The Open Marcus Trescothick hails Joe Root’s ‘golden arm’ as England edge closer to win

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UEFA reveals men's and women's coaches and player of the year.

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This time last week, the prospects seemed to be growing dimmer that the September jobs report would land this Friday as planned.

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When things run amuck, one of the first things astrology lovers do is Google, “Is Mercury in retrograde?” While the answer has been a stern no since May 14, that’s all changing now. We’re sorry to tell you that Mercury will be retrograde in Virgo from August 23 to September 14 this year, causing travel delays, communication mishaps, and exes to resurface for those few weeks. While it’s nice to have something to blame our hardships on, remember that we’ve survived this time and time again — and we’ll definitely be surviving it once more.

From Sunday, workers at the main United States base in Antarctica will no longer be able to walk into a bar and order a beer, after the federal agency overseeing the research program decided to stop serving alcohol