Not long is too long…

Nobody ever thinks it will happen to them or their pet, but every summer many people gamble with their dog’s life by leaving them in a car or other unsuitable environments, including caravans, conservatories and other out-buildings. You may think just a few minutes is fine but even this is putting their life in danger. Even if you leave the windows open or park in the shade, it will still cause distress and discomfort to your dog.

As the summer starts to hot up, The Mayhew has teamed up with a number of animal welfare organisations and the National Police Chiefs’ Council to promote this message and our advice is this: never leave your dog in a car or out-building, even if you “won’t be long” or if it doesn’t appear to be that hot outside.

When it’s 22°C outside, within an hour the temperature inside a car can reach an unbearable 47°C.

When a dog becomes too hot they start panting to cool down, but if they are unable to reduce their body temperature they will develop heatstroke which could lead to death.

The 4 warning signs of heatstroke to look out for in a dog are:

• Panting heavily
• Drooling excessively
• Appearing lethargic, drowsy or uncoordinated
• If the dog collapses or vomits

Many people think calling the RSPCA is the best thing to do, but they are not always able to get there in time. If you see a dog in a car on a hot day with the above symptoms then please dial 999 – the police are able to respond quickly and are best equipped to help in this situation.

Click here to read about what to do if you see a dog in a hot car >>