September 15, 2024, 9:30 am | Read time: 5 minutes
For many dog owners, going to the supermarket and leaving the dog in the parked car is entirely normal. But even with the window ajar, the car can turn into a deadly heat trap for a dog minutes in low summer temperatures. PETBOOK explains how to assess the danger and act immediately and correctly in an emergency.
Even at an outside temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit, a car can heat up within a few minutes to such an extent that the heat becomes almost unbearable for dogs in the car. Alone and trapped in the vehicle, it becomes a dangerous heat trap. After just 30 minutes, the temperature inside a car rises to about 97 degrees Fahrenheit. From this moment onwards, a dog can no longer regulate its body heat independently and is at great risk.
As dogs only have a few sweat glands and regulate their body temperature by panting, the heat can lead to irreparable organ damage, cardiac arrest, and, ultimately, death. At outside temperatures of 82 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature in the car is already 95 degrees after ten minutes, reaching 111 degrees after 30 minutes. This means danger to the dog’s life. After an hour, the car’s interior heats up to 115 degrees Fahrenheit, which is usually fatal.
Overview
Signs of overheating or heatstroke in dogs:
If you see a dog left alone in a parked car, check for the following warning signs of heat stroke:
- listlessness, collapse
- severe reddening of the mucous membranes and tongue
- vomiting, diarrhea
- Increased salivation
- heavy panting
- tongue hanging out wide with neck stretched out
- Restlessness or even panic
- palpitations, seizures
- Impaired balance
- High body temperature
What should you do if a dog is in a car in hot weather?
Sometimes, you discover a dog in the car in the parking lot in front of the supermarket or on the street. Then the question arises: What is allowed? At what point should or must you rescue the dog? Can you break the car window yourself, or do you have to call the police or fire department first? This is how you proceed:
1. Who owns the car?
Try to find out who owns the car as quickly as possible. Loudspeaker announcements in stores or loud shouting in the parking lot will help you find the car’s owner. If necessary, get other passers-by to help you locate the owner quickly. Once the owner has been found, refrain from accusations or discussions. Rescue and help for the animal comes first.
2. Recognize whether there is a danger to life
Signs that the dog is in a bad way in the heat of the car are panting and apathy, but sometimes also nervousness and barking and howling caused by fear. If the dog is panting very quickly, staggering, vomiting, and has a very red tongue and a glazed look, it may have already suffered a heat stroke and be in acute danger of dying.
3. Call the police
If you can’t find the car’s owner, call the police or fire department; they are obliged to act and free the dog.
4. Are you allowed to break the window?
Unexpected, tragic deaths can be prevented. Therefore, please intervene immediately if you discover a dog trapped in the car in acute distress at high temperatures. Breaking car windows to rescue dogs in distress can be justified in some instances but can also lead to legal consequences. It is, therefore, important that you proceed appropriately and protect yourself. Only if the rescue services do not arrive in time and there is an acute danger to the dog’s life may you take action and break the window yourself. Signs include heavy panting, staggering, diarrhea, vomiting, or listlessness.
If you can’t find the owner:
- Call the police or the fire department and ask for assistance
- It is best to call witnesses beforehand to confirm that an immediate rescue was necessary and document the incident with photos and/or videos as evidence
Good to know: Leaving your dog in the car when it’s hot can have legal consequences! According to the Animal Welfare Act (§17 TschG) in Germany, it is a punishable offense to leave a dog in the car when it is hot. If it dies from the heat or its consequences, you could face up to three years in prison or a fine for cruelty to animals.
5. Provide first aid
Once the dog has been rescued from the heat in the car, it must be taken quickly into the shade and given a drink of water. The water should never be too cold! The body should be moistened with lukewarm or slightly cool water. The drinking water offered as quickly as possible should also be at this temperature. Have other people help you and bring water and wet cloths in good time.
If the dog is unconscious, place it in the recovery position (right side), put its head forward, and stretch its head out. As a precaution, pull out the tongue to prevent choking or suffocation. Cover the animal with wet cloths and call for help from a vet or animal rescue as soon as possible.
6. Get medical advice
Even if the animal seems to be feeling better after the first aid measures, a vet must examine it professionally.
My conclusion as a health advisor for dogs and cats
Never leave your dog alone in the car in summer! A dog in an overheated car is always an emergency. If you are not sure whether or how to act, call the police for help. Every second counts! Talk about the dangers for dogs in summer in your environment and provide comprehensive information so that everyone can react correctly and quickly enough if they find themselves having to save a dog’s life.
Underestimated danger Why air conditioners and fans are dangerous for dogs and cats
Summer heat Editor: ‘My best tips for walking in high temperatures’
Sweltering Heat Summer for dogs: 11 tips to keep your dog healthy
Sources
- Gesetze-im-internet.de, “Animal Protection Act” (accessed on 10.7.2023)
- Veto-tierschutz.de, “The car as a heat trap: Don’t put your dog in danger!” (accessed on 10.7.2023)