As temperatures soar to 30C in parts of the UK this week, it's important to keep an eye on your four-legged friends who may be suffering from the heat. Unlike humans, dogs cannot sweat through their skin. Instead, they rely on panting and releasing heat through their nose and paw pads to regulate their body temperature.
To help them cool down, some owners have admitted to feeding their pets ice cubes but not everybody is convinced by this idea. One Reddit user said: "I feed ice cubes to my dog all the time. I freeze stock in old yogurt/ice cream tubs or freeze his kibble with some water. We have no aircon and live in the subtropics. Go crazy with the ice cubes!" While another added: "A vet friend told me that giving my dog ice cubes will kill him. Is this true?"
Offering their professional advice, an RSPCA spokesperson said: "The RSPCA advises freezing a dog's water bowl or kong before putting water or fresh treats inside (to help keep them cool for longer). We also advise putting ice cubes into your pet's water or making frozen treats to help cool them down."
However, some vets claim ice could potentially cause tooth damage for dogs, so it's a good idea to keep an eye on them while they chow down. Dr Susan C Nelson, a clinical professor at the Veterinary Health Center at Kansas State University said to PetMD : "The larger and harder the cube, the higher the chance of this occurring", so it could be worth giving smaller cubes or even ice shavings.
Sharing their own methods, one Reddit user said: "I occasionally put ice cubes in my Old English Bulldog's water bowl all the time just so it'll be a little colder than, say right out of the faucet. Given that she's one, I'd say most of your dog's adult teeth are probably in so I'd say you'll be fine in that regard.
"If it were younger or a puppy, I personally might be a little more hesitant about it because I would be afraid it might chip her teeth or hurt them somehow.. though I'm not sure how accurate that is. At any rate, go crazy with them!" Another user added: "My pup loves ice cubes on a hot summer day - no problems yet."
A third user said: "Our vet recommended putting ice cubes in our bulldog's water bowl to slow down her gulping the water (and subsequently spitting it up)." One more user said: "I used to keep my dog entertained during the summer by placing ice cubes in her water bowl. She wouldn't leave the bowl until she had fished every one of them out"