With summer pretty much in full swing, it’s important to make sure your pooch isn’t at risk of heatstroke.
One of the main risks during summer is people leaving their animals in vehicles unattended. It can take less than six minutes for an animal to die in a hot vehicle. As most people are aware, temperatures can rise rapidly on hot days inside a vehicle. Even on mild days, the temperature inside the vehicle can reach more than double the outside.
A good sign to tell if a dog is too hot is if they start panting. They use this as a way to exchange warm air for cool air but, if the air temperature is close to the dog’s body temperature, panting doesn’t really cool them down. Every dog has the potential to suffer from heatstroke, and it doesn’t have to be boiling hot for this to happen.
Some things to consider to prevent your dog overheating. Take your dog for a walk early in the morning or late in the evening when it’s cooler, instead of the middle of the day. Also avoid walking on hot surfaces like concrete or asphalt. It goes without saying that you need to make sure your pooch has plenty of water and are kept in a shaded area during hot weather. Extra tips and tricks include: adding some ice to their water bowl, using a wet cool towel and moving them inside the house.
If you do see a pet locked in a hot car, please call the police on 000.
