Pets can suffer and die when left inside parked cars. Even on mildly warm days pets can be in danger of suffering heat stroke in a matter of minutes, even when the car is left in the shade, with the windows left partially open.
Dogs and cats cool themselves by panting and through the release of heat from their paws. On summer days the un-circulated air and heat absorbed and reflected by the upholstery in your vehicle may heat up the inside temperatures making it impossible for the trapped pets to cool themselves. The average temperature of a dog is 101 F to 101.5 F; a dog with a core temperature of 105 F and above may have already sustained permanent brain damage.
- Exaggerated panting
- Rapid or erratic pulse
- Salivation
- Anxious/Restlessness
- Weakness
- Lack of coordination
- Deep red or purple tongue
- Convulsions or vomiting
- Collapse
- Coma
- Death
- Immediately move the animal to a cool, shady place, or air conditioning.
- Wet the animal all over with cool water, not ice cold water.
- Fan vigorously to promote evaporation. This process will cool the blood, which reduces the animal's core temperature.
- Do not apply ice. This constricts blood flow which will inhibit cooling.
- Allow the animal to drink some cool water.
- Take the animal to a veterinarian as soon as possible for further treatment.
- Veterinarians may apply supportive measures such as intravenous fluids to rehydrate the animal and oxygen to prevent brain damage.
What to do if you see an animal locked in a vehicle on a hot day:
If you see an animal in danger, take down the vehicle's color, make, model and license plate number. Try to have the owner paged inside the store, or call your local Animal Care and Control Agency or Police Department immediately. "They can remove the pet."
When you leave a companion animal in a car, you not only expose them to the possibility of heat stress, but also theft. Every year thousands of pets are stolen from unattended vehicles.