The Dog Days of Summer: Parked Cars and Companion Animals are a Deadly Mix

Common sense tells most people that leaving their pet inside a parked vehicle on a hot summer day could be dangerous after an extended period of time.  But most people don't realize that the temperature can skyrocket after just a few minutes.  Parking in the shade or leaving the windows cracked does little to alleviate this pressure cooker.  A car holds heat like an oven.

On a warm, sunny day windows collect light, trapping heat inside the vehicle, and pushing the temperature inside to dangerous levels.  On an 85-degree day, for example, the temperature inside a car with the windows opened slightly can reach 102 degrees within 10 minutes.  After 30 minutes, the temperature will reach 120 degrees.  At 110 degrees, pets are in danger of heatstroke.  On hot and humid days, the temperature in a car parked in direct sunlight can rise more than 30 degrees per minute, and quickly become lethal.  A dog’s normal body temperature ranges from 101° to 102.5° degrees.   A dog’s whose body temperature rises to 107-108 degrees will within a very short time suffer irreparable brain damage -- or even death

Pets, more so than humans, are susceptible to overheating.  While people can roll down windows, turn on the air conditioner or exit the vehicle when they become too hot, pets cannot.  Dogs, for example, are designed to conserve heat.  Their sweat glands, which exist on their nose and the pads of their feet, are inadequate for cooling during hot days.  Dogs (and cats) cool themselves by panting and by releasing heat through their paws.  On summer days the air and upholstery in your vehicle can heat up to high temperatures that make it impossible for pets to cool themselves.  Panting and drinking water helps cool them, but if they only have overheated air to breathe, dogs can suffer brain and organ damage after just 15 minutes.  Short-nosed breeds, like pugs and bulldogs, young pets, seniors or pets with weight, respiratory, cardiovascular or other health problems are especially susceptible to heat-related stress.
 
Heatstroke symptoms include:
Exaggerated panting (or the sudden stopping of panting), rapid or erratic pulse; salivation; anxious or staring expression; weakness and muscle tremors; lack of coordination; tongue and lips red (which may eventually turn bluish in color); convulsions or vomiting; collapse, coma and death.

Emergency Treatment
If your dog shows symptoms of heatstroke follow these instructions:

• Immediately move the animal to a cool, shady place. 
• Wet the dog with cool water. 
• Fan vigorously to promote evaporation.  This process will cool the blood, which reduces the dog's core temperature. 
• Do not apply ice.  This constricts blood flow, which will inhibit cooling. 
• Allow the dog to drink some cool water (or to lick ice cream if no water is available). 
• Take the dog to a veterinarian as soon as possible for further treatment. 

Veterinarians may apply supportive measures such as intravenous fluids to rehydrate the animal and oxygen to prevent brain damage. 

Don't think that just because you'll be gone "just a minute" that your pet will be safe while you're gone; even an air-conditioned car with the motor off isn't healthy for your pet.  To avoid any chance that your pet will succumb to the heat of a car this summer, be sure to play it safe by leaving your pet cool and refreshed at home while you're out running errands.  Even the most well-intentioned pet owner can get distracted and lose their sense of time in a store.

The Lowell Humane Society receives countless calls every year from concerned citizens who encounter a pet in a car alone during the hot summer months.  What can you do?  Try to locate the owner immediately.  If the car is parked at a store, ask the manager to page the owner.  If the owner does not return promptly, call local animal control or the police department immediately.  Want to help educate others about the dangers of leaving pets in hot cars?  Carry “Hot Car Flyers” in your glove compartment and place them under the windshield wiper – these are friendly reminders that alert people to the dangers of leaving animals in the car. 

You don't just expose your pet to the dangers of heat stress when you leave him in a car; you also expose him to pet theft.  Thousands of pets are stolen each year from unattended cars.

Summer is here!  As the summer heats up, keep your pets COOL – it may save their life!

Reference:  The Humane Society of the United States

Columnist, Grace Jeanes, owns and operates House Checks, a pet sitting business in Dunstable, MA.