Again and again one hears that irresponsible owners leave their dogs in the car when it is hot. In the worst case, however, this can end with the death of the dog, since the inside of the car can heat up to 70 degrees Celsius within a very short time. In this article, you will find out why this is particularly dangerous for dogs and which first aid measures you should know.
Dog in the car when it’s hot – the dangers
Finally, summer has arrived. On particularly hot days, the thermometer climbs to over 30 degrees Celsius. It’s not just us humans who sweat quickly, our animals also have to struggle with the high temperatures.
In summer, cars heat up extremely, even at an outside temperature of 20 degrees it can get up to 46 degrees Celsius inside a car. If the outside temperature is over 40 degrees, the temperatures inside climb to over 70 degrees Celsius – mortal danger for dogs!
Our four-legged friends have problems with high temperatures much faster than us humans. As is well known, they cannot sweat and regulate their body temperature by panting. Heat is particularly stressful for dogs with cardiovascular diseases, overweight, respiratory diseases, or short-nosed breeds.
When the temperatures are above 30 degrees Celsius, all dogs need to be careful, because our darlings have less circulatory stability, which can quickly lead to heatstroke or acute cardiovascular failure. At a body temperature of over 40 degrees Celsius, extreme circulatory problems occur and vital organs can no longer be adequately supplied with blood. From a body temperature of 43 degrees Celsius, the body’s own protein coagulates and the animal becomes unconscious.
Dog in the car when it’s hot – what to do?
In such an emergency, you should get the dog into the shade as soon as possible and start cooling the four-legged friend down the legs with lukewarm water. Then you should cool the rest of your body with lukewarm or slightly cool water. If the fur nose is conscious, you should offer it sips of water – but this water should not be ice cold either. However, if the dog is unconscious, it is best to place him on his side and make sure his tongue is hanging out of his mouth. Also, calm him down by talking to him.
If you leave your dog alone in the car, you are liable to prosecution
If you leave your dog in the car when it is hot, you are committing an offense. Because the Animal Welfare Act prohibits such an act if someone intentionally or negligently causes his dog considerable pain, suffering, or damage without good reason. In such a case, criminal proceedings for animal cruelty can be expected. If the offense is intentional, it can result in a prison sentence of up to three years.
Driving in hot weather – you should pay attention to this
As already mentioned, dogs have significant problems with warm temperatures. If you are planning a long car journey with your four-legged friend, you should take enough drinking water with you. You can offer this to him during the break. It is also recommended to equip your darling with a cooling vest or a cooling collar. In this way, the body temperature is regulated somewhat and your dog does not heat up as quickly.
