DOGS Trust and AA Ireland have teamed up to issue a warning about leaving dogs in hot cars this summer.
With temperatures at last starting to soar and families taking pets on holiday across the country the organisations say it’s vital to remember that leaving pooch in a parked car can be deadly.
Dogs Trust is asking dog owners across the country to be extra vigilant when it comes to travelling with dogs.
“More and more hotels in Ireland are dog friendly these days so increasingly we’re seeing owners take their dogs away with them on domestic holidays, which often means long drives up and down the country particularly during the summer season,
? said Kathrina Bentley from Dogs Trust Ireland.
The Dogs Trust summer
‘Hot Dogs’ campaign shows that despite being a nation of dog lovers, many owners are in the habit of leaving their dogs unattended in cars.
AA Ireland also reveals that it attends to hundreds of dogs that have been accidentally locked in the main cabins and boots of vehicles each year, leaving their owners distraught.
“What tends to happen is that owners step out of the car and leave the keys in the ignition and then the dog jumps up on the central locking button,
? says AA Ireland Patrol Lar Byrne.
“We’ve had emergency call outs where multiple dogs have been locked in to vehicles, I remember one where six dogs were trapped.
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By following seven essential safety tips for keeping your dog happy in the heat, you can ensure that your dog is safe on and off the road this summer:
?¢ Never leave him in the car in warm weather, even if it feels cool outside.
?¢ Always take the keys with you even if just running back into the house to get something.
?¢ Consider using a car sunblind to provide shade and always carry a ready supply of water.
?¢ Avoid long car journeys in hot weather, if you need to travel, avoid the heat of the day.
?¢ Clip fur and apply pet sun cream to easily burned areas: nose, ears, eyelids and belly. DON’T use human sun cream – it can be toxic so visit your local pet shop and get one that is made specifically for dogs.
?¢ Be extra vigilant with older and overweight dogs as they are more prone to overheating. In a real emergency wet your dog thoroughly and use a household fan to blow cool air over their head and body. Seek urgent veterinary attention.
?¢ If your dog takes a dip in a lake or pool make sure you rinse him as soon afterwards as possible.
Never allow your dog to drink from ponds unless the water is clear as algae in the water can produce toxins that are rapidly fatal.
Renagh Kelly, Veterinary Surgeon at Dogs Trust, says dogs can suffer from sunburn, just like us.
“Facing a higher risk are dogs with white or light-coloured hair, those with short or no hair at all and dogs that have lost hair through allergies or medical treatment,
? she added.
“Remember, it is also crucially important not to leave dogs in hot cars. Many dog owners believe it is ok to leave a dog in a car if counter-measures are taken, such as parking under a tree or leaving a window open.
“Unfortunately, this is a myth – in reality partially lowering the window has no significant effect on the temperature inside a parked car. Just a few minutes in a hot car can prove fatal for a dog
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If your dog shows signs of distress such as excessive panting, blueness of the tongue or collapse in the heat contact your vet. If you are present at the rescue of a dog from a hot car that is clearly in distress, seek immediate veterinary advice.
Dampening the dog down with cool (but not freezing) water or cool wet towels will help to start bring down their body temperature.