Summer is temporarily here, the temperature is rising and it’s consistently warm and muggy. With outside temperatures reaching over 30 degrees we must be mindful of the dangers of leaving dogs in the car. The temperature in a hot car can reach dangerous levels really quickly, even with a window left open.
Even if you think it’s not particularly warm, the temperature inside a car can significantly increase, making it very dangerous for dogs inside. The temperature inside a car can easily get close to 50 degrees when the outside temperate is only in the low 20s. If a dog’s body temperature rises above 41 degrees it can die within 20 minutes so even a quick run to the shop can be fatal if you have an expected delay. Dogs have a totally different sweating mechanism to people to and this makes it very difficult to regulate their body temperature and cool down.
Old & young dogs, long-haired breeds, dogs with short snouts like pugs and bulldogs can be particularly sensitive to the temperature in a hot car but always be cautious and never leave any dog in the car.
If you spot a dog locked in a car, call the RSPCA’s 24-hour cruelty helpline on 0300 1234999 or the police.
