Dogs in hot cars – what should you do?

It has been a typical British summer again this year. Intense heat for a week and followed by a mix of warm and pleasant days along with the inescapable showers. As we have very few days of particularly hot weather there is confusion as to what to do when we see pets in a car on a hot day.
Is parking in the shade with the window open enough?

In short wherever possible, don’t travel with your dog on a hot day especially if you plan on making a stop.  Remember if you’re uncomfortably warm in the car, your dog will feel worse as it is incapable of sweating to cool itself down.

When it’s 22 degrees, in a car it can reach an unbearable 47 degrees within the hour.[1] The Dogs Trust put together a powerful video showing how intense the heat in a car can get.

There are now more call outs to the AA and emergency services about dogs in locked cars than in previous year. This does not necessarily mean that this is happening more but only that bystanders are more likely to act and are aware of the dangers.

If you stumble upon a dog locked in a car on a hot day and you believe the dog is in distress you should try and get in contact with the owner i.e. ask to make a tannoy announcement. If this doesn't resolve the situation ring the emergency service or the RSPCA.

Try and establish how long the dog has been in the car by looking for a pay and display ticket or what kind of parking space the car is in. If the owner returns but you still feel the situation could have become dangerous you can still report the incident to the police.

If you decide that the right call of action is to free the dog yourself then you must be aware that without proper justification it could be classed as criminal damage and you may have to defend yourself in court.

To protect yourself inform the police of your actions, take images or footage of the situation and gather contact details of witnesses.

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[1] http://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/health/dogsinhotcars

The Dog Days

We have all heard of the phrase ‘dog days’ and more recently because of Florence and the Machines hit song ‘The dog days are over’. But what are dog days?

Dog days refers to the sultry days of summer and are used to describe frequently those that occur in July and August as these are our hottest months.

It is thought that the term originated during the Roman period where the brightest star in the summer sky (Sirius) was visible. This star is part of the Canis Major constellation AKA Large Dog constellation.

In general it is believed that hot tiresome days are called dog days as when it is particularly hot, dogs are described as being lethargic and inactive or quite possibly the opposite as being mad.
So what can you do to keep your dog cool during hot days?

1. Keep your dog’s water bowl full.

This may seem obvious but it’s important that your dog always has access to water. If you are going out without your dog then make sure that there are multiple bowls available or maybe just a larger bowl than usual.

2. Cool bath.

Make sure your dog has the ability to cool its body quickly by providing access to a water bath. If you have a garden it may be possible to leave the sprinkler on or if you have a small outdoor area whether a balcony or courtyard you can fill a large tub with water.

3. Remember to give your dog a haircut.

Trimming the fur on your dog before it begins to get too hot is ideal for help them cool down. We wouldn’t wear our winter clothes during summer so neither should your dog.

4. Lay a damp towel down.

Use a damp towel to help cool your dog, whether it is placed on the ground to cool their paws or wrapped around them to cool their body. Dogs cool from the bottom up so a cool towel on the floor is a great idea.

Pay special attention to your dog during the dog days of summer and call your vet if you are worried about your dog’s responses.

 At Home for Home dog boarding, we vet all our dog carers to see if they meet our requirements so you know that when you use our service your dog is getting the best care possible no matter the weather.