Learning how to cope in the heat can be a struggle, with the beaming rays of the sun, the inescapable humidity and the ever-rising temperatures tough to handle for many. With the Met Office forecasting a shift in weather patterns in the UK and a “warm plume” of air with highs of 30C heading our way, just imagine how your pet may be feeling. Domestic animals don’t have the luxury of being able to say when they’re feeling overheated or dehydrated, which is why you need to learn how to keep your pet as safe and healthy as possible during these extreme weather conditions. Whether you’re a dog person or own a reptile, this is how to look after your pet properly as the heatwave runs its course. Dogs Dogs with long fur will likely fare worse than their shorter-haired peers during the summer. However, they are able to cool themselves down by panting and releasing heat through their paws, as animal charity Blue Cross explains. Dogs do this because they’re unable to sweat through their skin in the same way as humans do. If a dog does overheat, they could be at risk of suffering from a serious heatstroke, with the charity explaining that “signs of heatstroke in dogs include collapse, excessive panting and dribbling”. “If you suspect your pet is suffering from the condition, move them to a cool place, preferably with a draught, wet their coat with cool - not freezing - water, and contact your vet immediately,” the charity advises. Furthermore, leaving a dog in a car on a hot day can have devastating consequences, as the temperature within the car can soar to extreme levels at a rapid rate, which is why it’s advised never to leave a dog in a car in hot conditions. To ensure that dogs are comfortable during walks on days with excessive heat, the RSPCA recommends only walking your dog in the morning or evening at the peak of summer, as doing so will help prevent them from burning their paws on the pavement or suffering from heatstroke. You must also make sure that your dog always has access to water. Cats Different types of cats may be more prone to sunburn than others, as pet agency Very Important Pets outlines. “Pale-coloured cats are vulnerable to sunburn; particularly on their ears, noses and sparsely haired areas,” the agency states, adding that, “like in humans, sunburn can sometimes lead to skin cancer.” While many cat owners may let their feline friends roam at will, the agency recommends keeping your cat indoors during the hottest time of the day, from around 11am until 3pm. You can even invest in a suncream designed specifically for pets to provide them with adequate protection from the sun’s rays. Having your cat’s fur trimmed could also be a good course of action in order to make them feel more comfortable in the heat. Furthermore, if you think that your cat may be feeling overheated, you can use a damp towel to cool them down. Just like with any other animal, cats shouldn’t be left in cars during a heatwave. Hamsters If you normally keep your hamster in a glass or plastic crate, you should be aware that the interior may be hotter than the average room temperature. This is important to keep in mind when considering where their crate is placed, as putting it on a window sill where it’s exposed to the sun could put your hamster at risk of overheating. Hamster blog site Hammysworld also suggests placing the crate on a stone or tiled floor during the day if possible in order to help the animals remain cool and comfortable. You could even place a ceramic tile within the cage as a means of lowering the temperature of the interior even more. Another trick that the outlet recommends is to place a frozen bottle of water on the side of the outside of the crate while also regularly refreshing your pet’s water supply. Fish You may think that your fish is safe in their tank of water as those outside battle the intense heat and humidity. However, the temperature of the tank can easily rise if the room temperature is higher than normal. If you have heaters in your fish tank, it would be wise to turn them off, Tropical Fish Site recommends, while it may also be worth reducing the normal temperature of the tank if possible. Another method that you can employ to help keep the water cool is to put bags filled with ice at the bottom of the tank. Birds While birds living in exotic locations around the world may be used to hotter climates, chances are that domesticated birds won’t have the same thresholds for higher temperatures. According to Bird Supplies, birds may be very susceptible to sudden changes in their environment, which is why knowing how to keep them cool during a heatwave is important. “Your average bird has a standard core temperature of around 105F or 40C, and are very susceptible to overheating,” the site states. Some signs to look out for that may indicate that your bird is overheating include if its panting, holding its wings far away from its body or exhibiting anxious behaviour. Many birds naturally enjoy spending time outdoors. However, if this is the case, you should make sure that the outdoor space that your bird frequents is equipped with shaded areas. On top of that, the site states that you should make sure to replace the bathing dish of water at the bottom of your bird’s cage at least once a day, while also ensuring that it has a decent supply of clean water to drink. Reptiles and amphibians Reptiles and amphibians are ectothermic or cold-blooded, which means that their body temperature relies on external sources, as detailed by Encyclopaedia Britannica. With that in mind, if the temperature of your home is higher than normal, then your pet snake or lizard could suffer in the hot conditions. Pet store Just For Pets advises first checking whether the temperature of your home falls within your animal’s ideal range. If the temperature exceeds its ideal range, then you can cool them down by providing them with clean water and keeping a small fan close by. Furthermore, you could utilise a similar technique to the one advised for hamster owners by placing a ceramic tile in its enclosure that it can use to lower its body temperature (that you could cool first in the fridge). Plus, if you place an iced bottle of water nearby, it could help reduce the temperature of the air, thus providing your pet with a more bearable environment. Read More How to tell if you have Covid or heatstroke Why do heatwaves in the UK feel hotter than abroad? How to protect pets from wildfire smoke amid air quality alert Dog owners shocked after vet shares list of ‘toxic’ substances Man faces backlash for wanting to bring six-month -old dog to the gym

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A person’s genetic makeup can play a role in determining whether they can stick to a strict vegetarian diet or not, according to a new study. The research, published on Wednesday in the journal PLOS One, may lead to further studies on personalised dietary recommendations and the production of meat substitutes. While a large fraction of people self-identify as mainly “vegetarians”, they also report eating fish, poultry and/or red meat, suggesting there may be environmental or biological constraints that override one’s desire to adhere to a vegetarian diet, said scientists, including those from Northwestern University in the US. “It seems there are more people who would like to be vegetarian than actually are, and we think it’s because there is something hard-wired here that people may be missing,” study co-author Nabeel Yaseen said. In the study, researchers compared UK Biobank genetic data from 5,324 strict vegetarians – consuming no fish, poultry or red meat – to 329,455 controls. Scientists found three genes linked with vegetarianism and another 31 genes that are potentially associated. Several of these genes, according to the study, are involved in lipid (fat) metabolism and/or brain function including two of the top three (NPC1 and RMC1). “My speculation is there may be lipid component(s) present in meat that some people need. And maybe people whose genetics favor vegetarianism are able to synthesize these components endogenously,” Dr Yaseen said. “However, at this time, this is mere speculation and much more work needs to be done to understand the physiology of vegetarianism,” he said. While vegetarianism is increasing in popularity, vegetarians remain a small minority of people worldwide, with 2.3 per cent of adults and 1.9 per cent of children in the UK identifying as vegetarian. Scientists believe the driving factor for food and drink preference is not just taste, but also how an individual’s body metabolises it. Citing an example, they said when trying alcohol for the first time, most people would not find it pleasurable for the first time, but develop a taste because of how alcohol is over time. “I think with meat, there’s something similar. Perhaps you have a certain component – I’m speculating a lipid component – that makes you need it and crave it,” Dr Yaseen said. “While religious and moral considerations certainly play a major role in the motivation to adopt a vegetarian diet, our data suggest that the ability to adhere to such a diet is constrained by genetics,” he said. Scientists hope future studies will lead to a better understanding of the physiologic differences between vegetarians and meat eaters. They said such an understanding would enable personalised dietary recommendations and to produce better meat substitutes. Read More Six healthy recipes that both you and your gut will love Father sparks debate for giving his son non-vegan food behind his wife’s back From leaf crisps to pudding, India’s ‘super food’ millet finds its way onto the G20 dinner menu

Although it’s almost back-to-school time, it’s not too late to take advantage of the swathe of new hotels that have thrown open their doors this summer. Treating yourself to a smart domestic overnight somewhere fresh is the ultimate indulgence, and there’s plenty of choice when it comes to swanky stays. How about a 17th-century inn in Somerset, given a major facelift courtesy of a chef and gallerist team? Or a quirky new-kid-on-the-block in Northumberland with Alice in Wonderland-inspired interiors? Elsewhere, there’s a new city break option in Liverpool, where former council offices have been transformed into swish digs, while the storied Grade II-listed Bromley Old Town Hall has unveiled its next iteration as a co-working space, restaurant and design-led hotel. And in the Lake District, a much-loved Cumbrian inn near Ullswater has been given the full VIP treatment after being gutted by a fire, reopening to much fanfare and featuring achingly stylish rooms. Here’s our pick of the coolest new openings to inspire your next night away. Read more on UK travel: Best spa hotels in London: Where to stay to chill out in style The best UK holiday destinations for families Best affordable hotels in Cornwall The Tempus at Charlton Hall Estate, Northumberland While visitors to Northumberland are spoilt for choice when it comes to smart self-catering digs, there aren’t heaps of boutique hotels to choose from. So, hurrah for more-is-more wedding venue Charlton Hall Estate which has added a 15-room boutique number, The Tempus, to the grounds. The mood is full-throttle exuberance, with light-hearted decor by Jeffreys Interiors that loosely riffs on Alice in Wonderland. In the bar a canopy of crimson leaves hangs above turquoise booth seating, lined by found-on-the-estate branches, bathed in glittery, disco ball light. The adjoining restaurant, reached by passing under antique Indian arches, is all sorbet shades and rattan lampshades; it’s cool enough to attract a cocktail-quaffing crowd, and pretty enough to bring your granny for a Sunday roast. The menu spans classics – fish and chips, burgers and Shepherd’s pie – through moreish arancini with curry mayo, and girolle mushroom gnocchi. Bedrooms each have talking-point design, with palettes ranging from sage and coral through crimson and ochre, wallpapers depicting cranes streaking through jungle scenes, and riotously fun furniture, from leopard-print scallop-backed to monochrome-hooded Porters chairs. As for exploring, Alnwick Castle and gardens are 10 minutes’ drive, and Seahouses – for boat trips around the Farne Islands – is about a half an hour by car. Here, Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours, which scooped Gold in the 2023 Experience of the Year at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, provide fascinating commentary to accompany jaw-dropping wildlife, including chunky grey seals and puffin colonies. Rooms from £232, B&B; Charltonhall.co.uk The Three Horseshoes, Batcombe, Somerset In recent years, the opening of Hauser & Wirth and country house charmer The Newt – and its glorious gardens – have led south Somerset to gain a reputation as the Notting Hill of the West Country. Now, acclaimed chef Margot Henderson (of Rochelle Canteen fame) and gallerist Max Wigram have breathed new life into an 17th-century inn in Batcombe – 15 minutes from Bruton – adding further magnetism. It’s easy to see why Henderson (who has friends living nearby) fell in love with the area. Batcombe is all vintage chocolate box scenery, with a gargoyle-adorned 15th-century church, sweeps of stone cottages by riverside paths where wildflowers grow, and light that dances like a golden sprite across the surrounding hills. Just next to the church, kids scramble barefoot along salvia and rose-lined paths in The Three Horseshoes’ revamped garden, as punters sip smooth Psychopomp Wōden Gin on its parasol-lined sun terrace. Inside, the pared-back dining space has newly exposed flagstone flooring, wooden Georgian furniture, an inglenook fireplace and art from Wigram’s collection. Food – whipped up by head chef Nye Smith (Henderson is in the kitchen two to three days a week) – is earthy and unpretentious; think Porthilly Rock oysters, globe artichoke with tangy vinaigrette, homely aubergine parmigiana finished with made-down-the-road Westcombe Cheddar and rabbit pie served by staff who brim with enthusiasm. Breakfasts are a pleasing spread featuring poached eggs, roasted tomatoes, yoghurt with apricots and local apple juice. Five bedrooms upstairs, designed by Frances Penn, feature comfy beds topped with Tile linens and cream Piglet in Bed throws, bamboo-framed hummingbird prints, stout antique furnishings – sourced from the likes of Somerset-based Ralfes Yard – traditional armchairs and tree trunk slice tables. Contemporary-feel white terracotta-tiled bathrooms – with walk-in showers or deep bathtubs – are stocked with Wildsmith toiletries. Rooms from £220, B&B; Threehorseshoes.co.uk George and Dragon, Lake District Also set to make a comeback, this time over in the Lake District, is the George and Dragon near Penrith – not far from picturesque Ullswater. Owned by the Lowther family, and part of the Askham Collection, which includes swish Askham Hall, this much-loved Cumbrian inn has been closed for a year after a fire gutted the property. Now completely refurbished, it’s back and looking better than ever. Ten stylish bedrooms, designed by Totty Lowther – who has a background in textile design – feature the likes of paisley-patterned wallpaper and tulip prints alongside antique furniture and artwork from the family’s collection. Bramley toiletries and coffee and tea from Farrers in Kendal ramp up the luxe level, and – handily for those travelling with a pooch in tow – all rooms are dog-friendly, and staff go above and beyond to make them welcome (they even get their own welcome pack with treats and a suggested list of local rambles). Another highlight is the back-in-swing kitchen restaurant, where the wine list champions bottles sourced from small, family-run vineyards and a field-to-fork approach sees foraged and locally grown produce take centrestage in head chef Gareth Webster’s ricotta and wild garlic agnolotti, market fish with samphire, Lowther Estate ‘deer in blankets’ with fermented rhubarb ketchup, and fruity crumbles. Rooms from £150, B&B; Georgeanddragon.co.uk The Barnsdale, Rutland For their third act, hitmakers The Signet Collection – behind The Mitre and The Retreat at Elcot Park – have turned their attention to the Midlands, making over Oakham’s Barnsdale Lodge. With a new name, The Barnsdale, interior design delivers the playful, classy elegance Signet have become known for, but feels a little more restrained and grown up than in previous properties, perhaps to ensure appeal to the regulars – walking groups, fishing enthusiasts and birders – who’ve been coming here for donkey’s years. In The Rod Room, vintage fishing rods and reels decorate the walls – in homage to nearby Rutland Water’s brown trout – and diners settle in to orange banquettes and gentle fern-toned chairs to enjoy the likes of Ronnie Kimbugwe’s cult cauliflower with sticky teriyaki, and stuffed chocolate bombolini. A flagstone-floored Orangery looks out to a rambling rose-draped courtyard, with Whispering Angel cabin. Smart-as-a-pin staff are on hand to give the welly-and-walks crowd route tips, and offer menu recommendations in the celebratory-feel 1760 restaurant – where bursting-with-flavour tomato gazpacho, lamb rump with harissa yoghurt, beetroot carpaccio and pesto tagliatelle are served. Bedrooms are reassuringly stylish, bringing together appealing colour-pop palettes, frill-edged headboards, bespoke Bramley toiletries and complimentary decanters of King’s Ginger. Stripey-walled family rooms have cute bunk beds for little ones, while the Fort Henry Suite has a copper bathtub, robin-run-the-hedge adorned wallpaper, and canopied bed. Days can be spent playing leisurely rounds of croquet on the lawn, or whizzing around Rutland Water by ebike (the hotel will soon have a fleet), stopping off at Rutland Nature Reserve for a rare bird fix at the renowned Rutland Osprey Project. Plus, later this year, the property will open a spa, with indoor-outdoor swimming pool. The Municipal Hotel Liverpool - MGallery, Liverpool Cast eyes to Liverpool, and there’s another hotel crossing heritage good looks with a fresh identity to discover. The former council offices on Dale Street have been reimagined to the tune of £60m into a 179-room hotel by big-hitting brand MGallery. Retaining its sandstone bones and iconic clock tower – a skyline stalwart which is as recognisable as Radio City Tower and the Liver Birds – the property’s light-filled Palm Court Bar is already proving popular. With gleaming pillars, palm trees, jewel-hued chairs and mixologists shaking up tea-infused cocktails, it’s added a touch of Gatsby to the city centre. For a more genteel afternoon tea experience there’s the Botanical Tea Room, while meat-and-seafood-heavy Seaforth restaurant has dishes which riff on the city’s historic trading connections with land and sea: roasted wild salmon with mussel broth and surf’n’turf, alongside cauliflower beignets and truffle chips. Parquetry-panelled corridors and original staircases lead to 179 bedrooms (nine of which are accessible) with padded William Morris & Co floral headboards, retro phones and midnight blue-tiled bathrooms with rainforest showers. Guests can access a restful 16m pool, salt sauna, steam room, laconium, experience shower and petite gym for a £30 fee, and book relaxing therapies by Elemis and Grown Alchemist. Brama, Bromley Grade II-listed Bromley Old Town Hall has had quite the history – playing host to David Bowie’s nuptials in days gone by – and its latest incarnation has seen it transformed into a mixed-use co-working space, restaurant and design-led 23 bedroom hotel. Brama has the feel of a convenient aparthotel and will appeal to business travellers after a fuss-free and comfortable stay. Although there are staff on site, contactless check in via a key code is possible for guests who want to keep themselves to themselves. Art Deco-inspired bedrooms are a thing of beauty, with geometric mirrors, ultra comfy Hypnos beds dressed with snuggly coral throws, and apple-coloured flared panel headboards, which match the bold green tiling in Bramley-stocked shower rooms. For those working late, in-room caffeine hits come courtesy of carbon-negative roasters Kiss the Hippo. Breakfasts can be taken downstairs in Dorothy & Marshall restaurant (other than on Mondays when there’s a grab and go option), where Brit fare is served in the grand surrounds of the former courthouse, which has picture gallery walls, arched windows and wood-panelling aplenty. Come lunch and supper time, a concise Brit-fare menu includes the likes of roasted cauliflower steak, artichoke puff pastry tart, fish’n’chips and burgers followed by trad favourites jam roll poly or treacle tart. Location-wise, Bromley’s High Street is on the doorstep, and its train stations are an easy walk. The hotel is a quick bus ride to Beckenham Place Park for leafy strolls, stone baked pizza and halloumi wraps from the Homestead Cafe, and bookable dips in the park’s swimming pond. Read more of our best UK hotel reviews Read More Best UK hotels 2022 Best luxury hotels in Scotland for 2022 Family-friendly hotels in the UK for style, location and value 8 of the best boutique hotels in The Cotswolds for a charming break The Landmark London review Why you should swerve the airport and set sail for Northern Ireland instead

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