Dogs Die in Hot Cars..

“Hot car” dog fatalities are needless and all-too-common. While humans cool themselves by relying on an extensive system of sweat glands and evaporation, dogs and other animals have a harder time staying cool, leaving them extremely vulnerable to heatstroke.

Parked cars quickly trap the sun’s heat, and interior temperatures can rise to dangerous levels in a matter of minutes. Leaving the windows slightly open does not remove the danger of heatstroke. More information on what to do if you find a dog in a hot car can be found at http://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/health/dogsinhotcars,

Never leave your dog alone in a car on a warm day. If you see a dog in distress in a hot car, dial 999.

Many people still believe that it’s ok to leave a dog in a car on a warm day if the windows are left open or they’re parked in the shade, but the truth is, it’s still a very dangerous situation for the dog.

A car can become as hot as an oven very quickly, even when it doesn’t feel that warm. When it’s 22 degrees, in a car it can reach an unbearable 47 degrees within the hour. Within 10 minutes a dog could sustain permanent brain damage and could die within 15 minutes at these temperatures.

What to do if you see a dog in a car on a warm day?

Don’t be afraid to dial 999. This is a true emergency and the police will treat it as such

How to help a dog in a hot car..

·    Establish the animal's health/condition. If they appear distressed dial 999 Immediately.

·    If the situation becomes critical for the dog and the police are too far away/unable to attend, many people’s instinct will be to break into the car to free the dog. Further information regarding this is available through the RSPCA link above.

Warning signs of heatstroke:

·    Is the dog panting heavily?

·    Is the dog drooling excessively?

·    Does the dog appear lethargic, drowsy or uncoordinated?

·    Is the dog collapsed or vomiting?

Some types of dog are more prone to heatstroke, like very old or young dogs, dogs with thick, heavy coats or dogs with very short flat faces like pugs and bulldog types. Dogs with certain diseases or on some types of medication are also more at risk.

Emergency First Aid for dogs

For the best chance of survival, dogs suffering from heatstroke urgently need to have their body temperature lowered gradually.

·    Move him/her to a shaded/cool area.

·    Immediately douse the dog with cool (not cold) water, to avoid shock. If possible, you can also  use wet towels or place him/her in the breeze of a fan.

·    Allow the dog to drink small amounts of cool (not cold) water.

·    Continue to douse the dog with cool water until his/her breathing starts to settle but never so much that he/she begins to shiver.

Take him/her to the nearest vet as a matter of urgency.