Dogs in Hot Cars

It is Summer Time! That means the sunshine is out! Summer means trips to the beach, long warm evenings and dinners cooked on the BBQ, but it also means we need to remind ourselves that dogs DO NOT belong in hot cars.

Did you know?

Animals can sustain brain damage or die from heatstroke in just 15 minutes. Dogs overheat much faster than humans do, as they can only cool down by panting and sweating through their paw pads. This is close to impossible to do as the temperature inside your car can reach 39°C in 10 minutes. Even in the shade with the windows down, the temperature can rise to a deadly 49°C in 30 minutes. Your dog’s natural cooling process is ineffective in these conditions due to the air in their immediate environment being thick and hot.

A dog’s normal temperature ranges from 38.0 - 38.5°C. Their body can withstand a higher temperature for only a short amount of time before irreversible damage is done.

Signs of heatstroke

A dog in a hot car will soon overheat and suffer from heatstroke. Some signs to look out for are:

• -Heavy panting
• -Profuse salivation
• -Dark red gums and tongue
• -Lack of co-ordination
• -Vomiting/diarrhoea
• -Loss of consciousness

If the dog is not removed from the car and treated quickly, signs will worsen resulting in brain damage, or even death.

Emergency first aid

-If a dog is overcome by heat exhaustion, give immediate first aid by cooling down with water (room temperature is preferable as ice cold water can cause shock or hypothermia).

• -Wet skin thoroughly, not just the coat. Focus on belly and between legs
• -Spray or sponge the dog until their body temperature is lowered
• -When the dog is cooling down and responding, gently dry the body
• -If the dog is conscious give them small amounts of water
• -Seek veterinary attention as soon as possible