05/31/2024
Regardless of the temperature outside, it’s never ok to leave a dog inside a car. Why? Deaths happen fast in cars as temperatures rise. In fact, it takes just six minutes, at most, for an animal to suffer severe heat exhaustion. This can lead to death.
Also keep in mind that the most common way dogs to cool themselves down is by panting making it extra hard for them to beat the heat.
The research speaks for itself. Pets die quickly in hot cars, even with the windows cracked slightly open. In fact, it’s questionable whether open windows even help the situation, with 80% of the final temperature increase happening in the last 30 minutes.
Cracking your window will not help this, the damage is already done. Internally, the temperature can reach double that outside, even on milder days. On hotter days, it can exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius) inside a car, even if you are parked in the shade or it's a cloudy day.
Heatstroke can occur any time throughout the year, despite many believing pets can only succumb to the condition in summer. Even in the winter the sun causes a 'greenhouse effect'.
Heat Stroke is a type of hypothermia that can cause injury to the body’s tissues as the internal temperature rises above the normal range.
Despite people often brushing the condition off as minor and something that can be bounced back from, heatstroke is a very serious and at times, life-threatening condition. Symptoms of heatstroke include:
Panting (a dog’s natural way to cool themselves down. However this can actually increase heatstroke progress).
Drooling
Agitation
Very red or very pale gums
Bright red tongue
Breathing distress
Increased heart rate
Vomiting
Signs of mental confusion
Dizziness or staggering
Lethargy or weakness
Collapsing and lying down
Seizures or muscle tremors
Another important thing to remember is that breeds react to heat differently. Breeds with flat faces, otherwise known as brachycephalic skul, are predisposed to heatstroke. Dogs such as Pugs, English Bulldogs, and French Bulldogs among others are most susceptible. Also, dogs with thick or long hair coats tend to suffer more than others.
In addition to the breed, dogs diagnosed with specific pre-existing conditions such as heart or breathing problems or neurological disease, can be more prone to suffering from heatstroke.
Despite the constant messaging on not leaving pets in parked cars, animal advocacy groups still receives thousands of calls about distressed animals left alone in vehicles.
If you think you may have to leave your dog in the car, don’t take them at all. Leave them in the comfort and safety of their own home. For dogs, playing at home, even when left alone, is much better than being stuck in a car, even for a minute.
What to do for a Heat Stroke > https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/heatstroke-in-dogs/
