Perth vets are urging pet owners to be wary of how dangerous Sunday’s predicted 40-degree heat can be for their animals.

Be very careful when taking pets to pools and beaches to cool off. Credit:Eddie Jim

The Bureau of Meteorology predicts the mercury to reach a top of 41 degrees celsius on Sunday, with the temperature crossing the 40-degree threshold for this first time this year on Saturday.

Dr Claire Sharp, a senior lecturer at the Murdoch Animal Hospital’s small animal critical care, said the heat could "cook" dogs and cats if they had no shade or way to cool down.

"Animals can rapidly progress to severe neurological effects like seizure and coma from panting initially, and develop bleeding," she said.