With temperatures set to increase, the animal welfare charity Irish Blue Cross is appealing to pet owners to keep cats and dogs safely out of the sun.

The charity is particularly concerned about the number of dogs who are exercised in hot weather.

Depending on a dog's breed, coat, age, and whether they are flat-faced, they may not be able to tolerate warm weather.

Dogs' paw pads can also burn on hot pavements. According to the charity, if the pavement is too hot for your hands, it is too hot for their paws.

The charity has said that while exercise is important for dogs, it is not necessary in extreme heat and all dogs should be kept indoors, in the shade, during periods of very hot weather.

The Irish Blue Cross has issued a list of tips to keep pets safe during periods of hot weather:

Keep your pet indoors.
Ensure your pet has plenty of access to shade if outdoors.
Make sure there is plenty of fresh water available to pets.
Take your pet for a walk either very early in the morning, or very late in the evening when the sun has gone down.
If your pet is older, overweight, or brachycephalic (flat-faced), take extra care on very hot days.
If your pet is brachycephalic, take extra care that they don't overheat in warm weather. It does not need to be a very hot day for a brachycephalic dog to get heatstroke.
Make sure the pavement/ground surface you are walking your dog on is not too hot for your pet.
Do play with your pet indoors and use interactive toys to keep them mentally stimulated.
Never leave your pet in a car in hot weather in any situation.

The Irish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) has also issued a reminder that it is "essential to ensure that pets remain safe and comfortable in hot weather".

It has advised that hydration is key to keeping pets safe, as dehydration can happen quickly in hot weather.

The ISPCA also stressed that dogs and cats should should never be left in a parked car.

It said: "Even with the windows cracked, a parked car can become dangerously hot in minutes. This can lead to heatstroke or even death. Dogs can suffer from heatstroke in as little as 10 minutes. 

"Heatstroke can lead to organ failure if not treated. If you need to run errands, leave your dog at home where it’s cool and safe," the ISPCA added.