Leaving your dog in the car during the warm summer days is not only cruel and dangerous to your pet, but it is also illegal in most provinces and states in North America. A woman in Grand Rapids, Michigan recently killed her Chihuahua by leaving in her the car and was prosecuted and fined for doing so.
Even on days where you don’t think it’s all that warm, it gets really hot in the car fairly quickly and dogs have only their panting and sweating through their paws to keep them cool. A car acts like a greenhouse and even though it may seem cool to you outside, it will be significantly hotter inside a closed car in very short order. For instance, if it’s 82F outside, the inside of your car will be about 109F. For every degree warmer it gets outside, it jumps up about 5-6 degrees warmer inside the car. Even having your windows cracked will not change the temperature inside the car.
A dog’s body temperature, under normal conditions, is slightly higher than a human’s, with medical texts warning that dogs need to be immediately cooled off if temperatures rise above 105 degrees.
The safest way to make sure your dog is protected is to not leave him in the car. Period. If you must leave her for a short period, leave the windows down and ensure she has a water supply. Most water dishes can be safely stored on the backseat floor. But this is only if you’re leaving her briefly because the inside of the car will warm up regardless if the windows are left open.
Leave your pet at home. It’s the best policy in the summer.
Recent tragedies:
“The Arizona Humane Society reported Tuesday that 19 dogs have died in the past three weeks across the state as a result of the extreme heat, including eight over the weekend. Those cases involved dogs left outside without shade and water, or left unattended in a vehicle, according to the group.” Source
“Heat killed police dog left in car, report says” Source
Dogs are particularly susceptible to heat and have a difficult time cooling down. Even while playing, hiking or just hanging around the house, a dog can become overheated. Signs of heatstroke in a dog are heavy panting, rapid breathing, excessive drooling, staggering and weakness.
Heat stress can lead to heat stroke — a medical condition in which the body temperature elevates and it can’t be cooled down.
If you notice these symptoms in your pet, the best thing to do first is pour cold water over him. Ice packs if you have them and if the symptoms persist, hurry your pet to your local veterinarians’ office.
Keep your pet safe. Keep them cool.
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