UK Pet News: June 2026

The weather is driving the headlines this fortnight: a rare red heat warning has vets and the RSPCA urging owners to rethink summer walks. Alongside that, a familiar flea-treatment brand has moved into pesticide-free parasite control, and the UK’s biggest rabbit welfare campaign returned with a clear message about what bunnies should actually be eating. Here is what changed between mid and late June 2026, and what it means if you own a pet.

RSPCA warns of a “silent killer” heatwave as temperatures hit 40C

With the Met Office issuing amber and red heat alerts for Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 June, and temperatures forecast to reach up to 40C in parts of England, the RSPCA has told owners to treat the heat as a genuine danger rather than a novelty. The advice is to walk dogs at dawn or dusk when it is coolest, never leave an animal in a hot car or caravan, and cool an overheating pet down before rushing to the vet. Flat-faced breeds, older dogs and overweight dogs are most at risk, so if your usual midday walk is booked with a dog walker it is worth agreeing an earlier or later slot this week. Our guide on how to choose a dog walker covers the questions to ask about hot-weather routines. Reported by Vet Times.

Beaphar launches pesticide-free flea and tick control

On 12 June, Beaphar expanded its Dimethicare line with two new pesticide-free products: a spray for pets, home and car, and a line-on treatment for rabbits, ferrets and guinea pigs. Rather than using insecticides, the range relies on dimethicone, which physically immobilises fleas, ticks, mites and lice. The company says around 70 per cent of owners are now looking for natural flea solutions, and with cost a growing factor the dual-purpose spray is pitched as a cheaper way to treat the animal and its surroundings at once. If you have small pets in particular, the line-on option is one of the few pesticide-free routes on the shelf. Details via Companion Life.

Rabbit Awareness Week pushes a hay-first diet

Rabbit Awareness Week ran from 22 to 26 June under the theme “Feeding Bunnies Better”, marking 20 years of the campaign. The central message is that hay or grass should make up 85 to 90 per cent of a rabbit’s daily food, with fresh greens making up most of the rest and concentrated pellets kept to a small share. The charities behind it want owners to move away from muesli-style mixes, which let rabbits pick out the sugary bits and skip the fibre their teeth and gut depend on. Rabbits remain one of the most popular yet most misunderstood pets in the UK, so it is a useful prompt to check what is really going in the bowl. More from Companion Life.