ANIMAL owners have been warned not to shear their pets in the current heatwave after a dog suffered sunburn.

Sadie, a Bedlington terrier now being nursed back to health at Danemere Kennels, Tibberton, had a combination of sunburn and clipper rash.

She is now being treated with antibiotics and soothing aloe vera.

"A lot of people do have their dogs clipped to keep them cool in hot weather, but it can do more harm than good if you don't know what you are doing," said Donna Raxster, of Danemere.

"Bedlingtons look like tiny little sheep, with very fine, curly hair that is normally trimmed with scissors, but Sadie's owner had used clippers and shaved her too closely.

"He was trying to do his best for her, but when she developed a rash he could not afford to take her to the vet."

Kennel owner Sue Quinlan said people often did not know how best to protect their pets in hot weather.

"They don't realise that they need less exercise and can suffer from heat stroke if they are taken for walks in the afternoon.

"The dogs here are taken out later in the day and walked in the shade," she said.

Dehydration

Cats have also been taken to Danemere suffering from dehydration, because they had been roaming without any access to water.

Both dogs and cats need plenty of water in the hot weather and should be kept out of the sun as much as possible and protected by applying sunblock to their noses and the tips of their ears, said Mrs Quinlan.

Malvern vet Willie Campbell of the Avenue Veterinary Centre warned taking dogs for walks on the Malvern Hills was potentially hazardous in the hot weather.

"Elderly dogs can have major problems with breathing and it could be catastrophic," he said.