May 28th, 2009
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As the weather warms up we need to reconsider taking FiFi and Rover along for a car ride. An idle car left in a parking lot can quickly reach temperatures dangerous to the health of your dog. An outdoor temperature of 85F (29C) can see interior car temperatures of upwards of 102F (39C) within 10 minutes and 120F (48C) within 30 minutes, even with the windows cracked open! Dogs can only withstand body temperatures of 108F (42C) for a couple of minutes without risk of sustaining brain damage. Your dog will be safer and happier waiting for you at home than coming along for the ride, only to be left in the car. “Just a minute” may be a minute too long. |
Hmmmm. I have this problem. Occasionally I must take my dogs with me to the store (no more than 10 minutes in the car while I run through the store like a mad woman). BUT, I do lock the doors and run the air conditioner while they are in there. I park where my exhaust can’t bug other people but the dogs are safe, So, is this a bad thing?
In June of 2002 we had just completed a long trip across southern Oklahoma to gather at my daughter-in-law’s home for a death in the family. I was in a hurry to get the car unloaded in the June heat. Awww…cool air and ice tea…about 10 minutes later I was seized with PANIC! I realized my rat terrier J.J. was still in the car!
He was semi-conscious and we immediately started the heat stroke protocol. He was revived without serious sequelae, and lived many more years after that.
My point is this….in stressfull family situations that may interfere with your focus on priorities, slow down, and concentrate. Take extra care with your pets and children that you are not distracted one moment away from their immediate care and safety.
Hi Karen Olsen….I’ve done the same thing…air-conditioned car…parked right in front of the store for 10 minutes. What could possibly go wrong? It has happened that children and pets have accidentally disengaged the gear shift or the motor/AC accidentally stalls. Last year a friend of mine’s little chihuahua was kidnapped unbeknownst to a pair of car thieves while she ran into the store for a couple of minutes. It’s a miracle Bandit was found 1 month later and 2,000 miles away unharmed. Her car was never recovered.
Great piece – I have also from the folks at Animal Care and Control that you need to provide a water source if you plan to leave the pup in the car. Some additional tips – http://animalcare.lacounty.gov/warm%20weather.asp.
Would you leave a baby in a locked car…? Regardless of whether or not the A/C is on, it is an invitation for all sorts of trouble. Suffocation from heat exhaustion is but one.
The myriad of potential, not the least of which is fatel, consequences are not worth the momentary convenience that many times is much longer than anticipated.
Your pet trusts you with his life. Don’t let him down.
Hi
I live in the UK with my beautiful long haired black and tan GSD called Jasper. We don’t usually have great summers here but for the last week it has been a lot hotter than normal and the incidents of dogs dying in cars has dramatically increased. It is surprising how hot a car can get!
Here are some stats that you might find interesting.
I’ve just been driving with my windows open and measured the “Air” temperature in the car. It ranged between 85 and 90 degrees.
I then stopped and left the windows fully open (No Breeze) – These were the results:
After 2 minutes – 98 Degrees.
After 4 minutes – 103 Degrees.
After 6 minutes – 112 Degrees.
After 10 Minutes – 122 Degrees.
Remember – These are AIR temperatures. The actual heat being applied to your dogs body will be higher.
It really is not worth taking the chance.
Last summer I bought Jasper a “Keep Cool Dog Coat” which he wears in the summer either whilst going for walks or travelling by car. It is really fantastic as it keeps him as cool as a cucumber. Once I had bought it everyone asked me why I had a coat on my dog on a hot day (someone even called the dog warden!) they had never heard of a Keepcool coat let alone seen one. Once I explained that it was a cold coat and they felt it, everyone was on the internet buying one!
In case anyone is interested here is the URL:
http://www.keepcool.org.uk/Home.htm.