Pet Safety in Hot Weather

When the weather is warm, you inevitably want to go out and make the most of it. As a dog owner, this often leads to situations where you need to take the dog out with you in the car. However, hot weather poses a significant risk to dogs and without taking the correct precautions, it can be fatal.

Despite the numerous campaigns which attempt to educate the public, every single year, thousands of dog owners leave their dogs alone in a car in extreme heat. Unfortunately, the harsh reality is, as soon as you shut the car doors, your dog is put at risk of significant harm or even death.

Ticking Time Bomb

If you leave a dog alone in a car on a hot day, the situation is akin to a ticking time bomb. Indeed, on a day where the temperature is 90 °F outside, the temperature inside the car can skyrocket to around 160 °F in as little as ten minutes. Dogs are unable to cool themselves down effectively, making those temperatures incredibly dangerous.

In as little as 15 minutes, a dog can sustain serious brain damage or even die as a result of heat stroke. Even leaving a dog in the car for just a minute can have serious repercussions for the dog’s health and well-being. Alarmingly, more than 25% of dog owners admit to having left their dog alone in a parked car.

Misconceptions and Appropriate Actions

Part of the reason for such an alarming statistic is that a number of misconceptions exist. Some dog owners feel that it is okay to leave their dog if they are just making a quick stop, if they park in the shade or if they leave a window open. In actual fact, this is not the case and such instances still pose a major threat.

In order to ensure your dog remains safe in hot weather, you should take the following steps:

• While driving, keep a window open or make sure the air conditioning keeps the car cool
• Keep plenty of water with you and stop regularly to keep your dog hydrated
• Keep your dog well-groomed, removing excess body hair
• If you need to leave the car, take your dog out with you. If you are on your own and have to go into a building where dogs are not permitted, leave your dog securely tied up in a shaded area

Do Not Take Chances

If you leave a dog alone in a parked vehicle, even for a few minutes, you are putting it in harm’s way and at potential risk of death. This is especially true when the weather is warm, but it is important to note that sudden weather changes can always occur, making it a bad idea to leave a dog alone in a car at any time.

Even if you just leave your dog for a minute or two, not only are you risking the health of your pet, it may also lead to your car sustaining damage. This is because current guidelines for the public advise that if they believe a dog to be at risk and they don’t believe emergency help will arrive in time, they are advised to take necessary steps to stop the dog from suffering.

Therefore, you may return to find that a passer-by has broken your side windows or windscreen in order to get the dog out of the vehicle – this can only take a minute, so even if you think you will be quick, a queue at the checkout could result in a poorly pet and a smashed windscreen!