Don’t have a hot dog in your hot rod...

IN these weather conditions, just how quickly does your car heat up inside?

The AA conducted an experiment in Dublin during the week and found that the temperature rose from 18 to 47 degrees in 30 minutes.

It was dangerously hot for an animal or a child within five minutes, and fatal within half an hour.

The heatwave may be slightly on the wane, but this is no time to be complacent.

Skoda, which has had a partnership with Dogs Trust for six years, also weighed in to remind dog owners of best practice when it comes to looking after Fido in warm weather and when you’re on the move. First and foremost, never leave your dog in a car in warm weather, even if it feels cool outside.

Don’t excessively walk or overexercise your dog, and avoid walking him or her at the hottest time of the day. The morning or late evening is best.

Always take plenty of water with you when out with your dog, and make sure he has shade to cool off in, inside and out.

Have him groomed and keep fur clipped to avoid overheating, but also remember that dogs can get sunburned, especially white dogs or those with little hair.

Try to keep them out of direct sunlight, and apply pet sunscreen.

Try to avoid car trips with your dog, but if you have no choice, then avoid congested roads or busy times of day when they could overheat in the car if you are caught up in traffic.

As is the case with walking, plan your journeys for morning or evening.

Skoda’s Cathal Kealey says: ‘Dogs cool down very differently to us humans. When in a car during warm weather, we keep cool by rolling up our sleeves, rolling down the windows, or turning on the air conditioning, but dogs don’t get a choice of what to wear or how to adjust the temperature.’

My own dog probably is clever enough to do so but, joking aside, this is a serious matter.

Last year, a woman attending the Bloom Festival in Dublin returned to the car to find her dog dead, a dreadful shame when a bit of foresight is all that’s needed.