Mary Allen
Each year, a significant number of dogs die from heat stroke or other complications directly as a result of being trapped in a rapidly overheating vehicle.
With the summer months upon us and the weather heating up, it’s more important than ever to be aware of the risks involved in leaving your dog in the car and to understand the reasons why dogs in hot cars die and how to stop it.
Why is leaving the dog in the car a problem?
When it’s hot outside, the temperature inside a closed parked car is even hotter. Even if the outside temperature is only 20 degrees Celsius, the temperature inside a closed car in the sun can rise to 45 degrees Celsius or even more within a few minutes.
Dogs regulate their body temperature by panting, and in a small enclosed space like a car, a panting dog just can’t get enough fresh air to keep his body temperature at a safe level.
Dogs can dangerously overheat in a vehicle (or a shed or other enclosed space) within minutes, leading to dehydration, sunstroke, and even death.
Overweight dogs, dogs with thick, heavy coats, or dogs with sunken faces and brachycephalic muzzles overheat more quickly than other dogs, but no dog is immune to the high risk of heat stroke from being left in an overheated car.
Heat stroke in dogs
Heat stroke in dogs begins with excessive panting, excess salivation, and increased heart rate and quickly progresses to lethargy, fainting or collapse, and unconsciousness, which if left untreated can be fatal.
If you find that your dog or another dog is suffering from heat stroke, you should immediately move your dog to a cooler area and work to lower his body temperature by giving him water to drink and keeping him in cool but not cold water bathing in the water You should also consult your veterinarian and take your dog to the vet immediately if they have passed out, become nauseous, lost control of their bowels or bladder, or do not cool down and recover within a short period of time.
How long can I leave my dog unattended in the car on a sunny day?
There is a very simple answer to this question, and that is “not at all”. It’s not safe to leave your dog unattended in the car for even a few minutes while you go shopping or running an errand. The temperature in a closed car without air conditioning rises quickly, even when parked in the shade, and heat stroke can occur within minutes in this environment.
And even if you only want to be away for a minute or two, what would happen if your errand takes longer than expected, you can’t get back in time, or something happens to you and no one knows your dog is locked in the car alone? It’s just not worth the risk.
Is it ok to leave my dog in the car with the window open?
Many dog owners assume that leaving a window partially open or providing a bowl of water can help prevent heat stroke and keep their dog safe in the car. However, this is not the case. An open window doesn’t provide enough cooling or ventilation to keep the car cool for your dog, and a bowl of water may help ward off the early signs of dehydration, but it won’t do anything to prevent heat stroke.
Simply put, open windows, water bowls, umbrellas, and other measures to keep your dog and car cool will not prevent heat stroke or make the car safer for your dog when left alone in it.
What to do if you see a dog locked in a car?
Hopefully, by now, all dog owners understand why it’s not appropriate to leave your dog in the car unattended, but what should you do if you see a dog locked in an unattended car in hot weather?
The first thing you should do is try to locate the owner of the car and the dog. If the car in question is parked at a supermarket or shopping center, you should ask them to make contact with the owners of the vehicle over the loudspeaker.
If the owners of the vehicle cannot be reached or do not return to the vehicle quickly, you should notify the police so that they can take care of the vehicle.
The legal situation you find yourself in when breaking into a car to rescue an overheated dog is something of a gray area; You should not take any action to gain access to the car without first talking to the police.
Try to locate the owners and initiate the process of removing the dog from the car via the police once you find a dog in a hot car. Even a dog that appears fine when you arrive can quickly become distressed and you should take steps to remove the dog from the car as soon as possible to minimize the risk of such an incident.
If a dog suffers or dies because it was left in a hot car, its owner or handler can be prosecuted under the Animal Welfare Act for neglect or cruelty. A successful prosecution for neglect or cruelty can result in prison terms, fines, and a ban on future pet ownership. Never leave your dog unattended in a car; it’s just not worth the risk.
Dogs in cars in hot weather
Temperatures around 40 degrees can be deadly for dogs. These can be reached in a few minutes inside cars in summer. Therefore, the following applies without exception: Never leave your dog alone in the car – not even “just for a short time”, not even with the window slightly open, not even in the shade!
Can a dog stay in the car for an hour?
In summer you should never leave your dog in the car. Even 5 minutes can become a health hazard for your four-legged friend. But be careful: It can also be too warm for the dog in the car at other times of the year.
What calms dogs down when driving?
Use the ADAPTIL Transport Spray in the car or on your dog’s car cover 15 minutes before departure. Replace travel pills with the calming effects of the spray. Improvement occurs almost immediately. Caution: Never spray directly on your dog!
Why doesn’t the dog lie down in the car?
If the dog is not used to the box beforehand, does not feel comfortable in it or has had bad experiences with it, then it is absolutely understandable that it is afraid of it and does not want to get into the car. So the fear is not of the car itself, but of the pits.
At what temperature should you leave your dog in the car?
From an outside temperature of 20°C it becomes life-threatening for dogs in the car. Many do not know how quickly the temperatures inside the vehicle rise.
Can I leave my dog in the car when it’s 12 degrees?
In principle, the law does not prohibit pet owners from leaving their dogs waiting in the car. However, it is important to take the prevailing weather conditions into account and ensure that your four-legged friend does not overcool or overheat.
Can you leave a dog in the car at 0 degrees?
From a temperature of minus ten degrees, the dog should stay at home. A winter coat or a thick layer of warm blankets, for example, offer protection from the cold in a cold car.
How cold does it get in the car at 0 degrees?
The car manufacturer specifies that. As a rule, the frost protection is at minus 25 degrees Celsius. That’s enough in our latitudes. Because even if the temperatures fall below minus 25 degrees overnight, it takes longer for the water in the engine’s coolant circuit to freeze.
What temperature is dangerous for dogs?
From a temperature around freezing point, it can be life-threatening for especially small dogs. Small and medium-sized dogs are at risk from minus 5 degrees. Temperatures from minus 10° C are dangerous for large dogs.
Who to call when a dog is in the car?
Anyone who notices a dog or other animal in distress in a car, for example, should call the police immediately. The police can open the vehicle if the vehicle owner or driver cannot be found quickly enough. However, they must be demonstrably searched for.