ALL pet owners will be aware of the dangers of leaving pets unattended in cars during the warm summer months.

Even leaving the window open a few inches does not provide enough ventilation on hot sunny days. The temperature inside the vehicle can rise very quickly within a matter of minutes and trapped animals can die of heat stroke within less than half an hour.

Even if it is quite cool and overcast when you leave your pet, the weather can change very quickly. The RSPCA now have the powers to prosecute pet owners who leave animals in cars unattended.

Many pet owners are blissfully unaware of the dangers of heat stroke away from vehicles. Dogs snoozing in the conservatory or in front of a window can also overheat very quickly and get heat stroke. I personally have treated a dog that came in with a core body temperature of 110.5 deg F (the brain starts to undergo irreversible damage at about 107 deg F) after falling asleep in front of patio doors for an hour.

Additionally taking your dog for a walk in the middle of the day when it is hot can lead to heat stroke, especially if they run around and exercise. Breeds particularly at risk include boxers and Staffordshire bull terriers who find it difficult to get rid of the heat produced in their muscles during exercise.

If you want to walk your dog, please do it at dawn and dusk when it is cooler.

The signs of heat stroke include excessive panting, very red tongue and gums, bulging eyes, collapse and eventually fitting. If you suspect that your dog may have heat stroke, it is important to get their temperature down as soon as possible to avoid irreversible brain damage.

DO.

Remove them from direct sunlight.

Hose them down with cold water from a tap or pour cold water on them.

Place a fan near them to help the water to evaporate and take heat with it (care with electricity near water).

Call your veterinary surgeon for advice once you have started cooling your dog.

DON’T.

Use iced water or ice cubes as this can cause the blood vessels in the skin to contract (vasoconstriction) which will make the situation worse.

Try and force cold water into their mouth – you risk getting bitten and cooling them down is more important than rehydration at this stage.

Put them in a hot car and head straight down to the vets – cool them down at home first whilst telephoning for advice.