An RSPCA worker has demonstrated the rapid temperature rise inside a parked car on a warm day, reaching 57.1C in just 25 minutes, to warn pet owners of the deadly risk to dogs.
Experiment Reveals Soaring Temperatures
Chris O'Brien, from RSPCA Cymru, conducted the experiment outside the charity's Cardiff office on a warm day. Equipped with a digital thermometer and stopwatch, he filmed himself as the temperature inside the car climbed from 23.3C at the start.
Within five minutes, the temperature surged to 35.1C. By the 10-minute mark, it had risen to 43.6C, and O'Brien reported feeling his heart beat faster and his breathing become heavier. He said: "I am baking. It is so, so hot in here. I can't even begin to tell you."
Physical Toll and Animal Vulnerability
O'Brien noted that while he could exit the car at any moment, a dog would not understand the situation and would become increasingly distressed. "Obviously I'm sweating a lot. Dogs regulate their body temperature very differently to humans, so they would struggle even more in these conditions," he added.
After 15 minutes, the temperature reached 48.8C, exceeding 50C just two minutes later. "Everything in the car is absolutely boiling," O'Brien said. "I cannot imagine how a dog would feel."
Final Reading and Warning
At the conclusion of the 25-minute challenge, the thermometer registered a staggering 57.1C. O'Brien stated: "I cannot believe the impact this has had in such a short space of time. This is so dangerous. Never leave a dog in a hot car."
The RSPCA urges owners never to leave a dog in a parked vehicle, even for a few minutes or with windows slightly open, as it can rapidly prove fatal. Dogs cannot regulate body temperature as efficiently as humans, making them highly susceptible to heatstroke. The warning comes as forecasters predict temperatures climbing into the 30Cs across parts of the UK.
