Summer can be a great time for dogs and their owners, with the pleasant weather and long evenings meaning more time to spend outside - but the high temperatures can also pose potentially deadly risks.
Any drivers who own a dog have been urged never to leave their pet alone in a vehicle when taking them out and about this summer, even for a very short amount of time. Even when the weather only feels mildly warm outside, temperatures inside a car can quickly rise to dangerous levels - which could prove fatal to any dog left inside the vehicle.
Dogs are far more susceptible to overheating than humans, and can develop heatstroke if they are unable to reduce their body temperature; a serious condition that can kill your pet within less than hour. Experts at LeaseCar.uk and its sister site LeaseElectricCar.co.uk have looked into the changing internal temperatures of a car with different temperatures outside - and the research yielded some worrying results, WalesOnline reports.
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Leading animal charities have long warned that even if a car is parked in the shade or the windows are left open, the inside of a car can become unbearably hot in a very short space of time. And research carried out by the car experts found that a temperature of just 21˚C outside can see a car's internal temperature shoot up to over 45˚C in the space of an hour.
Tim Alcock from LeaseCar.uk said: "Animal welfare messages have been extremely effective in recent years educating people not to leave their dogs in cars on a hot day due to the risks of overheating. But the simple truth is even on what might seem a mild or warm day where temperatures are around the 20˚C mark, the internal temperature of a car can quickly multiply to dangerous and fatal levels."
The expert added: "We are therefore urging motorists to NEVER leave a dog unattended, whether wind, rain or shine. Don't make that 'quick dash to the shops' result in a fatal error which will stay with you forever by leaving your pet on its own in a car and potentially at risk.
"Instead, practice good habits by always ensuring that when you leave the car to run an errand, if your dog has been traveling with you, it also goes with you." As well as ensuring you never leave your dog alone in the car this summer, it's important to protect them from the hot weather in other areas of their life too.
The RSPCA warns that walking your dog on a hot day could cause them just as much harm as leaving them in the car - in fact, heat-related illnesses after exercise affects 10 times as many dogs than those overheating in cars, as the risk is not as widely known. Testing the temperature of the pavement, providing plenty of shade and water for your pooch, and avoiding walks during the hottest parts of the day can all help to keep your four-legged friend safe.
Warning signs of heatstroke include heavy panting, difficulty breathing, excessive drooling, lethargy, drowsiness, collapse or vomiting. If you spot any of these symptoms in your dog, move them to a shaded and cool area and call your vet immediately.
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