Keeping our furry friends safe in the hot weather

Many of us like to take our dogs out in the car with us, but sadly, many dogs die from being left in cars in hot weather. Even when it's not super hot, the temperature in a car can easily be double the outside temperature. Even with a window open, dogs can still die from overheating. Leaving your pet in the car in hot weather could not only result in his suffering, but you could also be prosecuted for animal cruelty. There are several signs of heatstroke in dogs. Look out for lots of saliva, red gums, heavy panting, sickness or diarrhoea, lethargy or problems with co-ordination. If your dog appears to be displaying symptoms of heatstroke then move him out of the car to a cooler area immediately and call your vet. Let him drink a little water if he is able and douse him with cold water too. If you are at your home you can put him in a shower with the water on a cool setting. If you have access to a fan, then set this up near him. It's very important not to leave a dog in a car at all in warm weather. If you see a dog in a car on a warm day then the best thing to do is call the police. Photo credit: By User:Almonroth (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons