My dog, Basil, looks like a small black cloud. He wears a thick, dark and woolly coat at all times. Practical and chic come winter time. In a heatwave? Not so much.

Me, I love it when the temperature heats up. Worst comes to worst, I’ll WFPP (like work from home, but in a paddling pool), but I do feel terrible for Baz. We’ve had his hair cut, made sure his water bowl’s always topped up and would never leave him in a hot car, but is there anything else I need to know about during this week’s soaring temperatures? And what about other pets? Lizards will be laughing, one assumes, but can bunnies get sunburn? How do cats stay cool?

‘Pets are much more susceptible to heatstroke than we realise,’ says Dr Edwina Gildea, vet and director of veterinary operations at leading animal health company Zoetis UK. So, even if your pet is less of a woolly mammoth than mine, they’re still likely to suffer more than their human family members. ‘They can’t regulate their body temperature the same way we do, so it’s important to provide plenty of shade, fresh water and cool resting places,’ explains Dr Gildea. ‘If you notice excessive panting, drooling or lethargy in your pet, get them to a cool place immediately and contact your vet.’

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Want to help your pets stay happy in a heatwave? Here are 10 expert tips…

Water, water everywhere. Always have fresh water available, of course, but in the heatwave it’s especially important to also take a bottle on walks, says Dr Gildea.

Ice, ice, baby. Dog not drinking enough? ‘Frozen treats like berry or apple ice blocks are a fun, cooling option,’ she suggests.

Fun in the sun. Fido looking forlorn? Fill a garden paddling pool with water. The PDSA vet charity for pets in need recommends toys that can be frozen. Pull them out of the freezer and add these to the water for play time.

Paw protection. Going for a walk? Use the five-second rule, The Dogs Trust suggests. If you can’t comfortably hold your hand to the tarmac for five seconds, it will be too hot for their paws. Stick to early morning or evenings when the temperatures cool.

Furry good for them. The RSPCA recommends using pet-safe sunscreen on exposed areas of their skin, such as the tips of their ears or nose, especially if they have white- or light-coloured fur, which makes them more vulnerable to sunburn.

Water bed. The animal charity also suggests laying a damp towel on the floor, for them to rest and cool down on. Do not put a wet towel on top of your pet, as this can have the opposite effect.

Bring Bugs Bunny’s temperature down. You can dampen their ears with your wet hands during very hot days, says the Blue Cross. Or, mist your rabbit with cool water to help cool them down.

Feline water features. Cats tend to prefer running water to still sources, says the Blue Cross. If you’re worried about their hydration, offer them a drink from a tap, they suggest.

Try the armpit trick. While dogs can be submerged in water (with their heads above the surface) if they need to be cooled down fast, The Dogs Trust recommends against doing so with older dogs or those with health conditions. Instead, spray them with room temperature water, avoiding their face, and combine with air movement from a breeze, fan or air conditioning. Place ice wrapped in a tea towel (to prevent ice burns) in their groin and armpits.

Spot the signs. Look out for panting, drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea or disorientation. These are red flags – contact your vet.