REDBRIDGE: Dog lovers told to watch out for four-legged friends in the heat (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

REDBRIDGE: Dog lovers told to watch out for four-legged friends in the heat

2:36pm Friday 3rd July 2009 in

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DOGS left alone in cars for just five minutes could easy die from the heat, the RSPCA has warned.

The charity has received hundreds of calls every day about animals suffering inside vehicles during the hot spell and is warning pet owners not to take any chances.

RSPCA spokeswoman Klare Kennett said: “Just yesterday there was the case of a dog that died when it was left in a van in Peckham and when the vet was doing the autopsy this morning he said its organs were still too hot to handle.

“Normally someone passing the car sees the dog and gives us a call so we can head down there.

“If the dog is found to be in distress then we will prosecute the owner. We advise not even to take your dog out if you will have to leave them for a moment.”

Dogs can suffer from heatstroke, which can be fatal and even when it is just 22°C (72°F) outside, the temperature in a car can soar to 47°C (117°F) within 60 minutes.

Open windows or a water bowl make little difference while cloud cover can disappear quickly.

All dogs will suffer, but some dogs are more prone to heatstroke. For example, dogs that are old, young, short-nosed, long-haired, overweight or heavily muscled are more at risk, as well as dogs with certain diseases.

Temperatures in air conditioned cars can reach the same temperature as outside within just five minutes of being turned off.