SPCA warn of high risk to dogs left in hot cars
One dog has died in Nelson already this season after being left in a hot car and the SPCA is saying any time is too long in a car over summer.
Dogs left in cars is a common occurrence.
Nelson SPCA manager Donna Walzl said she was aware of one death already which police attended before notifying the SPCA.
Between one and three calls a day were being made to the organisation from concerned passers-by seeing pets in parked cars.
Walzl said the first thing they did when receiving the calls was work with the police and dog control to try to contact the owner.
‘‘It’s a lot quicker for us to make a phonecall than for us to get there but if we can’t get hold of anybody ... then we go.’’
She said there were no precautions or time limits recommended for leaving a dog in a car. ‘‘Any time is too long. ‘‘Unless you’re taking your dog somewhere, just don’t take them. It’s just too hot.’’
Victory Vets vet Jade Hackney said it took minutes for a dog to overheat.
‘‘It can be as short as 10 to 15 minutes for the car to get hot enough to cause damage.’’
Dogs can’t regulate their temperature like humans.
‘‘Dogs can only lose heat through panting and sweating in their paws so they can’t sweat like us.’’
She said that once a dog got too hot, heat stroke would set in.
If their body temperature exceeded their regular 38.5 degrees they would start having problems, ending up with brain damage and eventually death.
The signs of a dog in distress included weakness, shaking, panting hard, lose of coordination, seizures and vomiting.
‘‘If they get too hot, it is important to cool them down and take them to a vet straight away.’’
And spare a thought for your dog out walking on a hot day.
Walzl said at this time of year ‘‘the pavement is hot as well.
‘‘If you can’t put your hand on the ground and it’s not comfortable on there for five seconds, it’s too hot for dog’s paws.’’