00:01Ultimately, there's no safe temperature to be leaving a dog in a car in warm weather.
00:07Warm, dry conditions are expected across much of England and Wales across the coming months,
00:12with temperatures rising into the low 20s in some areas.
00:16As people plan outdoor activities, animal welfare experts are urging pet owners to take early precautions
00:23to avoid heat-related illness in pets.
00:25It's simple things, planning ahead, having a look at what the weather forecast is going to be like,
00:31having a look to see wherever it is that you are going, whether they accept dogs,
00:36so you're not left sort of unprepared and surprised when you get there.
00:40And even in the warmest weather, we tend to advise leaving your dogs at home anyway,
00:45and just because it is sometimes too hot for them to be out and about and doing those things with
00:51us.
00:51And again, I appreciate not every dog can be left at home on their own,
00:55some may have issues with separation anxiety.
00:58So again, it's planning ahead, having a look at what you want to do,
01:02and getting a suitable dog sitter, somebody to come and care for your pet,
01:05while you're out enjoying your day.
01:08Experts say the concern centres on how quickly vehicles and indoor spaces can heat up,
01:14even when temperatures outside feel only moderately warm.
01:17This is why pet owners are being urged to plan ahead, including checking daily forecasts,
01:24adjusting walk times to early morning or evening,
01:26and avoiding leaving animals in cars, caravans, trains or ferries.
01:31The charity also stresses that emergency action is critical if a dog shows signs of heat stroke,
01:38and that people who find a dog in a hot car should call the emergency services immediately.
01:44Recently, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home had a new campaign about the cost of cute,
01:50how breeding animals for cute features actually impacts their health.
01:54So I was just wondering, do all of these summer warnings like that we're talking about at the moment
01:59kind of fuel these larger conversations in regards to breeding and health issues in pets in general these days?
02:08Yeah, absolutely. So there are certain types of dog who are more susceptible to heat-related illness.
02:17So typically brachycephalic dogs, that's essentially dogs with short, flat faces.
02:22Research has actually shown they're 12 times or up to 12 times more likely to suffer from heat-related illness
02:28than normal face dogs.
02:30So for anybody with a flat-faced dog, absolutely take extra precautions.
02:36And almost you want to be even more strict with your routine.
02:40So where it might be okay for a young, fit, normal face dog to go out during early morning,
02:46it might not be the case for your dog.
02:49So be extra cautious.
02:51Care absolutely is a protective mechanism.
02:53It does keep them cool to some extent,
02:55but it can also help sort of worsen the overheating.
03:01So make sure they're always well-groomed and speak to a groomer about that
03:06because it isn't always appropriate to fully shave every single dog.
03:10It depends on their coat type.
03:11So definitely speak to your groomers and get advice from them.
03:15And same again with older, so very old, very young.
03:20And those with pre-existing illness, particularly that's related to their breathing or their heart,
03:27can mean that they are more likely to suffer from heat-related illness.
03:31If you have any of those dogs which fall into those categories,
03:36we'd advise additional caution on top of what we already do advise.
03:40Polling suggests only 58% of people say they would not leave a dog in a car on a warm
03:46day,
03:47indicating a continued need for awareness of the risks.
03:51Walking is actually a bigger case of heat-related illness than cars are.
03:57So with walking dogs, it's around 75% of all heat-related illnesses are from walking.
04:04And again, I think it's that misunderstanding.
04:07More people are aware that cars cause an issue, but actually the real danger is with exercise.
04:14Again, we always advise to walk at cooler times of the day,
04:18first thing in the morning, last thing at night.
04:20So that might mean setting alarms and going to bed a little bit later and changing your routine,
04:24but it is for the best.
04:26Avoid going out at the hottest times of the day, particularly mid-afternoon.
04:31And when you are walking in warmer weather, even if it is at the cooler times of the day,
04:38try and avoid some of that high-impact exercise.
04:40So lots of running, chasing dogs, whatever it might be.
04:44And instead, go for lower-impact exercise.
04:48We like to use the term sniff army.
04:51So let them just interact with their environment nice and gentle
04:55and go to areas where it's shaded and woody as well.
04:58Owners are advised to continue monitoring forecasts closely
05:03and to seek veterinary advice if they are concerned about their pet's health during warm weather.
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