As some of you may have read, two dogs in the UK sadly lost their lives over the weekend after being left to cook in their owners cars. You would think that with the amount of media coverage at this time of year which is surrounded around keeping safe in the heat that people would know better. Sadly that's not the case at all. What a lot of people don't realize is, dogs are far less tolerable to heat than us humans. They don't have the benefit of being able to 'sweat' to cool down like we do, in fact, apparently dogs only have sweat pores on their paws but their most effective way of cooling is via panting. In order for panting to cool them successfully, the air they are breathing in HAS to be cool, otherwise it is extremely ineffective. I'm not sure if any of you have sat in a warm car before but let's just say the air is certainly not cool, temperatures in a warm car far exceed the actual temperature of the outside, so imagine how hot it would be in a car if the temperatures outside are nearing 30 degrees (which they did in some areas of the UK this weekend)!
There are several ways we can aid our dogs cooling and ensure we can keep them as comfortable as possible in the humid heat we are often faced with in Britain. The number one rule is never, ever leave your dog unattended in a warm vehicle. If the temperature outside is about 15, it will be too hot for the dog in the car. If, however, leaving the dog in a car for just a moment is the only option then leave the air con on full or leave windows open wide; if you're concerned about theft have window guards fitted. It only takes moments for a dog to die from a heat stroke. With walks, avoid the peak times. If it's possible walk your dog early morning and late evening as these tend to be the coolest times in the day. However, if this is not an option, like for me and other fellow dog walkers who's work takes place during peak heat time, then make sure you bring plenty of water (and a bowl) and provide plenty of opportunities for the dog to drink; try and walk in shaded areas if possible; have short breaks in the shade; and, pour water on your hand and rub the dogs chest with it as this aids cooling, this is especially important for dogs who refuse to drink on a walk. Also, do not overwork your dog and drag him around with you for hours on end on those hot days.
Heat is unavoidable at this time of year but it is possible to make sure our pooches don't suffer and this can be done if you follow the advice given above. You could even go the extra mile and provide a small paddling pool for your canine to wade about it, or take trips to water sources on your walks if you live close by to any.
Just remember the number one rule: do not leave your dog unattended in a warm vehicle! You may well just be popping into the shops but is it worth returning to a dead dog for? It only takes a matter of moments for a dog to die of a heat stroke so please, please try your best to keep your four legged friend as cool and comfortable as possible!
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