Hot Cars
Byron's Dog Blog
For Everyone
Updated:
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You may have heard that dogs die in hot cars, and that's absolutely true. But how hot is too hot? And how long is too long?
Essentials
Us dogs are stuck in our fur coats all year round. This means it's very easy for us to overheat, when the weather is warm, and especially during and after exercise. No matter the time of year, we need constant access to clean, fresh water. That's not negotiable.
When the weather is hot, we also need access to shade, and, if possible, a more active way to cool down, such as a fan or a cooling pad.
Cooing pads can keep us furry animals from overheating on hot days - temporary image
As a responsible dog carer, you obviously wouldn't leave a dog in a car in the heat, but you might come across one, and it's important to know how to assess the risk and what to do about it. But the most important thing is not to be paralyzed by uncertainty. If you think things are ok, but you're not certain, just hang around for a few minutes and see if people return to the car. If the dog has been alone in the car for just a few minutes, and the people return quickly, you can relax.
If you see any animal in car during hot weather, here are some things you should look out for.
Warning Signs
Although any animal confined in a hot space is at risk, I will focus on dogs, as our signs of distress are easy to spot. It is unlikely you will encounter other animals in cars, but if you do, you may find some of these points also apply.
Panting
A dog pants when he needs to lose heat. That's because we don't have sweat glands, so we can't cool down like you guys do.
Clawing at the window
Nothing says "let me out" like trying to get out.
Distressed sounds
Distress can be due to overheating, but also could be separation anxiety, boredom, or behavioral problems. If a dog in whining or howling in a car, it might not be an emergency. Check for other signs of physical distress, but don't discount an emergency without consideration of all the info.
Windows: Open or closed
Some people open the windows when they leave their dogs in the car. Others close them and put the air conditioning on. If the windows are closed, you can tell if the A/C is on by how relaxed the dog is, and possibly by looking at the dashboard controls (if you can see them). If the dog seems alert and relaxed, the A/C is probably on. However, if the windows are open, it's possible they are not open enough. Air must be flowing in at a good rate in order to keep the dog cool. If the windows are only open a small amount, it's unlikely to be sufficient. Again, check for other signs of physical distress.
In case the windows are down, but not very much, check if there are also fans running. Visible fans, or evidence of air-flow (like movement of the dog's hair) could show you that there is active cooling inside the car.
Shade or sun?
If the car is parked in the shade, the temperature inside could be much lower than you might expect. This could actually be fine for a short time. But if any of the windows are in direct sunlight, the car is going to be like a greenhouse, taking heat in and adding it to the heat that's already there. The temperature inside can soar to deadly heights in just a few minutes.
Unresponsive animal
Regardless of anything else, if the dog does not react to you at all (even if you tap on the glass), it could very well be an emergency. You don't know how long he's been in the car, after all. If you really can't get a reaction, follow the emergency steps below (or do what you think is best to save him).
Emergencies
If you have determined that the dog is in danger, either because of points here, or for some other reason, the only important thing is the dog. Don't worry about the car, what people might think if you interfere, or the cost of a window. If you think an animal is in danger, break the window to let air in. If it looks really serious (completely unresponsive), you might even need to take him out of the car. In any case, deal with the immediate problem and call for help as soon as possible.
If you need to break a window to let air into a boiling car, choose the window farthest from the animal and press or tap on it firmly, right in the corner, with a sharp object like a key or a sharp stone. Don't hit the window hard, because when it breaks, your hand will go right through and you will sustain serious injuries to your hand and arm, as well as spraying sharp glass all over the place. This not only causes you a second emergency and endangers the animal you are trying to save, but also creates danger for others who will walk there later on.
Car glass is designed to shatter into small pieces when compromised, to avoid creating large shards that could be much more dangerous. Once a small part of the glass is shattered, the entire window will shatter, and you can carefully clear the area by covering your hand with a piece of clothing (or a glove) and pressing on the window.
It's important not to cool the animal too rapidly, say by spraying or dowsing him with cold water, as he will likely go into shock and that can be fatal. It's important to provide water to drink and cool him properly over a period of a few minutes.
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If you use this knowledge to break into someone's car, you accept full liability for that act and the punishment that will come, which could be severe. If you break a window to save an animal in danger, it is unlikely that any negative consequence will follow.
Please seek additional information, as this guide can't be complete for every possible situation. The more you know, the better prepared you can be.
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