dogs die in hot cars
A sad, but true story. A dog owner parked his car in a suburban New Zealand street, probably intending to pop away for a short time. He left his dog inside the vehicle, but then forgot about it. The dog was discovered later that day - dead. A tough lesson to learn for the distraught owner. The day wasn’t even particularly hot – the forecast high temperature was 21 degrees.
Dogs can’t sweat like people do. They pant to cool down. When a dog is locked inside a car on a hot day, even with the windows open a little, it will be unable to cool its body temperature down to a safe level. This is the reason dogs die, and it’s a really nasty, unnecessary death.
Even parked in the shade with the windows slightly open, the temperature inside a car can reach 39 degrees in ten minutes. In thirty minutes, forty-nine degrees. The safest option for your dog, is to leave it at home, with adequate shade and water.
If you should come across a dog locked inside a car this summer, and it looks distressed, please phone your local SPCA immediately or dial 111. It could be a matter of life or death.
Signs of hyperthermia or heatstroke in dogs include: excessive panting and drooling, reddened gums, vomiting blood, seizures, muscle tremors, looking distressed and unconsciousness.
Another hazard for your dog on these hot summer days is the temperature of walking surfaces. Concrete footpaths, roads and sand can become so hot that paws can be burnt. Have you heard of the five second rule? If you can’t hold the back of your hand on a walking surface for five seconds, then it’s too hot to walk your dog. Exercise is best done in the early morning or in the evening when it’s cooler.
It’s also a very good idea when travelling with dogs in the summer, to take along water and a container suitable for your dog to drink from
© Kawerau SPCA, January 2016
"We speak for those who cannot speak for themselves."
Dogs can’t sweat like people do. They pant to cool down. When a dog is locked inside a car on a hot day, even with the windows open a little, it will be unable to cool its body temperature down to a safe level. This is the reason dogs die, and it’s a really nasty, unnecessary death.
Even parked in the shade with the windows slightly open, the temperature inside a car can reach 39 degrees in ten minutes. In thirty minutes, forty-nine degrees. The safest option for your dog, is to leave it at home, with adequate shade and water.
If you should come across a dog locked inside a car this summer, and it looks distressed, please phone your local SPCA immediately or dial 111. It could be a matter of life or death.
Signs of hyperthermia or heatstroke in dogs include: excessive panting and drooling, reddened gums, vomiting blood, seizures, muscle tremors, looking distressed and unconsciousness.
Another hazard for your dog on these hot summer days is the temperature of walking surfaces. Concrete footpaths, roads and sand can become so hot that paws can be burnt. Have you heard of the five second rule? If you can’t hold the back of your hand on a walking surface for five seconds, then it’s too hot to walk your dog. Exercise is best done in the early morning or in the evening when it’s cooler.
It’s also a very good idea when travelling with dogs in the summer, to take along water and a container suitable for your dog to drink from
© Kawerau SPCA, January 2016
"We speak for those who cannot speak for themselves."
