DOGS left in cars in heat wave  conditions are being cooked alive, the RSPCA have warned.

The hot weather has claimed the lives of several animals across the country as owners fail the recognise the danger of leaving dogs in cars as temperatures rocket.

RSPCA North regional superintendent Martin Marsh said: "The death of those dogs was an avoidable tragedy.

"Leaving a dog in a hot car has the same kind of effect as putting it in a microwave. They are literally cooked alive, in what is a horrendous death."

Around 350 calls about animals trapped in hot cars came into the RSPCA’s National Control Centre in recent days.

RSPCA North regional superintendent Martin Marsh said: "The death of those dogs was an avoidable tragedy.

"Leaving a dog in a hot car has the same kind of effect as putting it in a microwave. They are literally cooked alive, in what is a horrendous death.

"People just aren’t listening. Leaving a window open simply isn’t enough, and in-car temperatures rise quickly, even if it's cloudy.

"What people need to realise is that the next animal to die in a hot car, conservatory or outbuilding could be their pet - that’s how serious this is."

The RSPCA claim that  owners make the mistake of thinking it is sufficient to leave a bowl of water or a window open for their pet but this is not enough to protect them from heatstroke, which can have fatal consequences.

The temperature inside a car can soar to 47 degrees within 60 minutes when the outside temperature is just 22 degrees.

Even a hot garden without shade can be disastrous for an animal the animal charity warn.

Owners who fear their dog may be suffering from heatstroke should act quickly.

Pets should be moved to a cooler spot straight away before ringing a vet for advice immediately:

  • Dogs should be doused with cool (not cold) water. They should be sprayed with cool water and placed  in the breeze of a fan.
  • They should never be cooled so much that they begin to shiver.
  • Let your dog drink small amounts of cool water and continue to douse your dog with cool water until his/her breathing starts to settle and then take him/her straight to the nearest veterinary surgery.