Dog Hot Weather and Heat Stroke Prevention

Heat stroke in dogs is a rapidly fatal emergency that is entirely preventable, and education about the risks of leaving dogs in cars and exercising in heat saves thousands of lives annually.

Key Facts

Dogs can develop heat stroke within minutes in a hot car - even on a mild day
Brachycephalic breeds including French bulldogs are at highest risk from heat due to impaired breathing
Heat stroke causes brain damage, organ failure, and death without rapid cooling and veterinary treatment
The RSPCA receives thousands of calls about dogs in hot cars annually in summer
Exercise should be restricted to early morning or evening on warm days to prevent heat exhaustion

Welfare Considerations

Heat stroke causes catastrophic acute welfare harm - brain damage, multi-organ failure, and death occur rapidly without intervention. The condition is almost entirely preventable through simple behavioral changes by owners. Leaving dogs in vehicles on warm days is the most common preventable cause. The interior of a car heats to dangerous temperatures within minutes even on relatively cool days. Exercise timing on warm days is equally important - dogs exercised in heat during midday experience distress and can rapidly develop heat exhaustion. Brachycephalic breeds face the highest risk due to their impaired ability to pant effectively for thermoregulation.

What You Can Do

Never leave dogs in parked vehicles on warm days even for short periods
Exercise dogs in early morning or late evening on days above 20 degrees Celsius
Know the signs of heat stroke including excessive panting, drooling, and collapse
Cool an overheating dog with room temperature water and seek immediate veterinary care
Call 999 if you see a dog in distress in a hot car and the owner cannot be found quickly