And now the weather - for dogs!

Chihuahua owner and boxer David Haye swaps his gloves for a green-screen as he fronts the world’s first weather forecast designed specifically for dogs.

The ‘Weather Pawcast’ has been launched by MORE TH>N Pet Insurance to raise awareness of the dangers that hot, humid and thundery summer weather poses to dogs’ wellbeing.

Weather Pawcast uses bespoke temperature ‘risk scale’ developed with leading vet to pinpoint the areas of the UK where the weather is set to pose the biggest danger to dogs.

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Using a bespoke temperature risk scale developed by a veterinary expert, David pinpoints the regions of the UK where hotter temperatures and higher humidity levels could put some of the nation’s nine million dogs at greatest risk of dehydration and heat stroke, as well as the areas where thunderstorms are likely to occur, potentially causing undue stress in canines.

Commenting on his debut as a canine weather forecaster, David Haye said: “I’ve been a two weight world champion and fought in front of millions but being a weatherman for dogs is definitely a first.

“However, as a dog lover and owner I know too well the hazards our four legged friends face on a hot day. I hope that by presenting a weather pawcast I can help raise awareness of the issues that MORE TH>N is highlighting and encourage all dog lovers to be more mindful of how the warm weather affects their pets especially given the current temperatures”

Based on this weekend’s forecast, almost one million dogs have been identified by MORE TH>N Pet Insurance as being in ‘very high risk’ temperature zones.

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The MORE TH>N Weather Pawcast will continue throughout the summer on MORE TH>N’s Facebook page.

To see a seven-day doggie weather forecast for the UK visit www.facebook.com/morethan.

Vet Robert White-Adams’ 10 Tips for Hot Weather:

1. Get your dog’s coat stripped, or even better, clipped short.

2 Change walkies time to early morning or late at night when the temperature is cooler. Take it easy and let your dog take things slow. It’s too hot for running, fetch and ball games.

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3. If your dog is panting then stop and slow down and if possible find some shade.

4. Take water with you at all times and on walks gently spray your dog with a mist of water. Repeat often as the water evaporates and cools them down. However, do not douse or drench your dog with cold water. Sudden cold shock can divert blood flow away from the skin and can actually make your dog hotter!

5. Make sure plenty of fresh drinking water in a clean bowl is available at all times (not too hot; not too cold). Check and refill throughout the day.

6. If you’re inside, open windows but keep the curtains drawn to keep the temperature down and make sure your dog has lots of space to move around.

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7. Dehydration happens much quicker in warmer weather so if your dog is vomiting, has diarrhoea or stops drinking then seek help from your vet immediately.

8. Create somewhere cool for your dog to rest, such as placing a wet towel in a shady spot outside.

9 Place a fan near your dog and try putting an ice pack in front of the fan to cool the air it’s blowing.

10. Check up on your dog more often. A lot can happen in just a few hours so change your routine to keep an eye on your dog.

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