Leaving dogs in cars
Monday 28 May 2012
Warning over leaving dogs in hot cars
After a long period of wet overcast weather, the temperature in Swale has suddenly warmed up over the last week.
While people are making the most of the sunshine dog owners are being warned not to leave their pets to cook in hot cars.
During the hot spell in September 2011 the RSPCA received 170 reports from people worried about animals left in hot cars “ three times as many calls as average which is usually about 50 calls.
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.
Swale Borough Councils animal control officer Tim Oxley said the message is: "Dogs die in hot cars. Dont leave your dog alone in a car, it really isn't worth taking the risk, if you are going out in your car, leave your dog at home".
These are the guidelines from the RSPCA.
As an example, the temperature inside a vehicle can soar to 47 degrees within 60 minutes when the outside temperature is 22 degrees. Even in lower temperatures, if it is sunny or slightly warm outside, a vehicle can become hot very quickly.
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
