Keep your dog cool as temperatures soar

Keep your dog cool as temperatures soar

The RSPCA is urging pet owners to make sure their four-legged friends do not frazzle in the heat this summer.

With temperatures set to rise this weekend, the charity is reminding dog owners to not leave their pets in cars, conservatories or caravans while they enjoy the sunshine.

All too often, owners make the mistake of thinking that it is sufficient to leave a bowl of water or a window open for their pet but this is not enough to protect your pet from heatstroke, which can have fatal consequences.

Already this year, the RSPCA has been inundated with more than 1,400 calls from members of the public who are concerned about how a total of 1,911 dogs are coping in the hot weather.

Last year, the charity was contacted more than 4,670 times about 6,365 dogs being left in cars – this peaked in July when they took more than 1,100 calls voicing concerns about 1,545 dogs.

RSPCA chief veterinary advisor Mark Evans said: “If you leave your dog in a car, caravan or conservatory during the summer you are putting your much-loved pet at risk, it’s as simple as that.

“Every year, we ask pet owners the same thing and remind them of the dangers posed but we still get thousands of calls from people who are concerned about animal welfare in the warm weather.”

The temperature inside a car can soar to 47°C (117°F) within 60 minutes, even when the outside temperature is just 22°C (72°F).

Other dangers are: 

• Cloud cover can disappear quickly
• All dogs will suffer, but some dogs are more prone to heatstroke. For example, dogs that are old, young, short nosed, long-haired, overweight or heavily muscled are more at risk, as well as dogs with certain diseases
• Temperatures in air conditioned cars can reach the same temperature as outside within just five minutes of the air conditioning being turned off

The most obvious sign of heat stroke in dogs is excessive panting and profuse salivation. Other signs include: 

• Overly red or purple gums
• A rapid pulse
• Lack of co-ordination, reluctance or inability to rise after collapsing, seizures, vomiting or diarrhoea
• Coma or death in extreme instances

Owners who fear their dog may be suffering from heat stroke should act with great urgency. Pets should be moved to a cooler spot straight away before ringing your vet for advice immediately.

• Douse your dog with cool (not cold) water. You could put your dog in a shower and run cool water over him/her, spray your dog with cool water and place him/her in the breeze of a fan. Never cool your dog so much that he/she begins to shiver
• Let your dog drink small amounts of cool water
• Continue to douse your dog with cool water until his/her breathing starts to settle and then take him/her straight to the veterinary surgery

Under the Animal Welfare Act it is illegal to cause an animal unnecessary suffering. Penalties for doing so are a fine of up to £20,000 and/or a six month custodial sentence.