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Hot Cars Are Death Traps For Dogs

Dog owners be warned: Leaving your pet in your car can have deadly consequences

We’ve all seen it before: The poor panting pup trapped in someone’s vehicle in a parking lot on a sweltering summer day. Snout sticking out the cracked window, mouth wide open, tongue hanging, breathing heavily, perhaps with a few strands a drool dangling, in a desperate attempt to cool down.

Poor doggy.

It is especially common at places where people tend to make quick stops – the dry cleaners, the grocery store, Starbuck’s or the local deli. But sometimes a quick stop can turn into a long stop—and if your pooch is confined to a baking hot passenger compartment while you’re waiting in line for your latte or whatever, be warned: In the direct sun the inside temperature of your car can rise by more than 20 degrees in less than 10 minutes—and can top-off as high as 140 degrees (F) with the windows rolled up. And because dogs tend to overheat quickly, it can take just minutes more before your precious pet is in a precarious predicament.

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In worst-case scenarios, some pet owners have returned to their vehicles to find their pets deceased—having died from a heat-induced heart attack, asphyxiation and/or organ failure. More commonly they find that their pet has passed out or vomited—yes, heat exhaustion affects dogs much the same it affects people—but according to Deborah Bayazit, a veterinarian at Poster Animal Hospital in Westport, even if your pet seems to have recovered, “there could still be permanent damage to the animal’s kidneys and intestines.”

“Just because you dog has recovered from an overheating incident, that doesn’t mean you’re out of the woods yet,” she said. “We’ve seen many cases where the pet becomes very sick the following day—sometimes even 48 hours later.”

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Should you have even the slightest of suspicions that your dog is suffering from the effects of heat exhaustion, Dr. Batazit suggests that you “hose your dog down with cool water and bring it to the emergency room right away.” She said a good vet can run a series of tests to find out of there’s been any serious damage to the dog’s kidneys or intestines.

According to the Dog Breed Info Center’s website, symptoms of heatstroke in dogs include rapid heavy panting; drooling; petechiae (pinpoint, deep-red hemorrhages on gums/ skin); bright red mucous membranes on the gums and conjunctiva of the eyes; hyperventilation (gasping for air); salivation early then dry gums as heat prostration sets in; staring; glassy eyes; anxious expression; refusal to obey commands; warm, dry skin; fever; rapid heartbeat; diarrhea; vomiting; weakness; collapse and seizures.

Batazit said such incidents “are more common at this time of year,” when pet owners miscalculate how hot it is— or how hot it will be—before they go out with Fido on any given morning. For example Thursday started out in the mid-60s in the morning, but by 4 p.m. Westport had reached a baking 92 degrees.

Information posted on the MyDogIsCool.com website shows that even with four windows cracked, the temperature inside a passenger car can rise to as much as 17 degrees (F) above the actual outside air temperature. So, for example, if you left your dog in your car, with four windows cracked, in Westport yesterday when the temperature hit 92 degrees, the inside temperature of your car could reach as high as 109 degrees—plenty high enough to cause major organ damage if left long enough.

“The thing you have to remember is that dogs don’t sweat like we do,” Dr. Batazit said. “The only mechanism they have for cooling themselves is panting.”

Interestingly, depends on the breed. According to Dr. Sheldon Yessenow, a veterinarian at in Stratford, breeds with short snouts, like pugs and boxers, “get into trouble first.” Baby animals and older ones are also at increased risk, he added.

Even on days when it is relatively cool outside, the temperature in your car can rise to levels that are potentially harmful for your pet. Bayazit said the best rule of thumb is to simply “leave your dog at home if you have any doubts.”

“If you have to take your dog with you, be sure to bring along some water, crack all the windows and park the car where you know it will stay shady,” she said.

But she warned that there is always a risk: “I’ve seen cases where someone parked their car in the shade in a parking lot, thinking their pet would be OK there for a while—but what happens sometimes is, as the sun moves across the sky, suddenly your car is no longer in the shade—and you’re not there.”

Another thing that Batazit says she “hates to see“ is pet owners “forcing” their dogs to go running or jogging with them, or engaging in rough play, in the heat.

“Keep in mind that your dog can’t cool down the same way you do,” she said. “So, if you’re out there jogging with your pet, and you feel like you’re getting too hot, your pet is getting even hotter—possibly to the point where you’re causing serious harm.”

Of course, we would be remiss if we didn't point out that leaving your dog in a hot car is illegal. Under Connecticut State Statute, cruelty to animals can be prosecuted as a misdemeanor or a felony, with fines of up to $1,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year. If caught, you might also be required to attend counseling and participation in animal cruelty prevention and education programs as conditions of your probation.

If you come across a dog left in a vehicle, and it appears to be suffering from the heat, call the police and provide the vehicle's location and license plate number.

Ultimately, the best thing to do if it’s hot outside, Bayazit said, is just “let your pet stay home and relax.” And if you really want to take your pet out in your car or jogging with you, “do it at night, when temperatures are cooler.”

And to that we say “woof!”

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