Dogs and hot cars: preventing injury and death

Warm weather means getting outside and many times that includes traveling with your dog! As fun as these adventures are, the heat, and cars can be a dangerous combination for your four-legged companion.

Dr. Gretchen Kasameyer, a Veterinarian at the Cheyenne Mountain Animal Hospital said its a serious matter, “people don’t understand that if it’s over 60 degrees that the car heats up–and the car can heat up pretty significantly in ten minutes.”

Kasameyer explained cool air alone isn’t enough for your pup. They need some kind of a breeze to promote evaporative cooling. Dogs that are exposed to high heat are at serious risk. Seizures, brain, kidney and liver damage are all possible with prolonged high heat exposure. Death can occur in some instances.

If the outside air temperature is 70 degrees, the inside of your car will warm to 104 degrees in just 30 minutes. On an 80 degree day, the inside of your car will warm to 114. On a 90 degree, hot summer day, the inside of your car can reach 124 degrees Fahrenheit in a half hour. The internal car temperature only warms with higher outdoor heat. That’s according to San Francisco State University.

Kasameyer recommends just leaving your dog at home if you have to travel during the spring and summer months. But what if you can’t? What should you do then? She recommends leaving the dog in a car with a person and parking in the shade. You should also minimize your time away, or if you have the option, tie your dog to a tree outside.