A vet has issued a stark warning to those who own a flat-faced breed of dog as we enter the summer months.

This includes owners of French bulldog, English bulldog, Boston terriers, Chinese pugs, among other brachycephalic breed.

It is common knowledge brachycephalic breeds can experience breathing difficulties due to their short snouts and flattened faces.

However, some owners forget the impact this has on their pets during summer.

Sharing a warning on Reddit, the vet said: "It is getting hot outside, and as a vet tech I'd be remiss if I didn't make some sort of PSA regarding the extremely limited ability that these pets have to cope with high temperatures, due to their congenital inability to breathe properly and circulate oxygen throughout their body."

To protect your pets, she urges owner to keep their brachycephalic breeds inside when it's warmer than usual outside.

She added: "Short walks are OK, but anything over 10-15 minutes in warm weather and you are begging for a trip to BluePearl or verge for heat stroke, where we will put needles and possibly an endotracheal tube into your beloved pet and charge you an arm and a leg for it to boot.

Your pet cannot breathe properly and as a result cannot handle high temperatures well. Please don't take him or her for long, or even short walks if it's hot out."

Adding to this, the Kennel Club shared the signs your dog may be overheating - including heavy panting, elevated body temperature, glazed eyes, increased pulse, excessive thirst, excessive drooling, staggering, as well as vomiting and diarrhoea

A statement reads: "Long-term breathing difficulties and an inability to cool down normally are commonly seen in extremely brachycephalic dogs. This breathing disorder is called brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, or BOAS, and is a progressive, lifelong disorder that can impair a dog’s ability to exercise, play, eat and sleep.

"In addition to difficulty breathing, restrictions to the flow of air through the nostrils and internal nose structures can make it challenging for brachycephalic dogs to cool down, as the nose is the main area in a dog’s body where heat exchange occurs."

Overheating can be life threatening to dogs - and can result in them suffering a seizure, collapsing, becoming unconscious and, in some cases, they can even sadly die.

The statement adds: "If you notice any signs of overheating in your dog as described above, take immediate action while contacting your vet for help. Move your dog to a cool, shaded place, soak them with water to cool them down, and provide them with a small amount of water to drink to rehydrate."

Commenting on her post, one user said: "I knew they have issues with heat, but didn't realise duration was so short. I've seen people have their Frenchies with them while they do outdoor dining."

Another user added: "Man, I would hope this message wouldn't need to be said, but right after seeing your post I walked by a couple walking their French bulldog down the Brooklyn Bridge in this 82 degree sun. The poor dog looked distressed and they were only at the start of the bridge."