By Eric Hurwit, D.V.M.
It’s amazing we still need to keep telling people to not leave their pets and children in a hot car. Yet, after yesterdays visit to the drug store, it’s obvious we still do. I pulled in to the parking space and got out and in the next car is a Jack (Parson’s) Russell Terrier sitting in the front seat of a car with the windows cracked about ½ inch. The dog was panting away and agitated. The car was facing into the sun and you could see the heat radiating off the car. So I asked the cashier in the drug store to make an announcement. No Go. His boss would not let him, “the disruption of customers is against store policy.” With that information I found the shoppers on my own and had to request that one of them return to the vehicle and attend to the pup and remain with air conditioning running. They did so with great consternation and disbelief in my concern. Every year we hear about children and pets suffering from and dying of heat stroke from being left in cars. Every year it’s in the news, and yet every year it keeps happening.
It’s amazing we still need to keep telling people to not leave their pets and children in a hot car. Yet, after yesterdays visit to the drug store, it’s obvious we still do. I pulled in to the parking space and got out and in the next car is a Jack (Parson’s) Russell Terrier sitting in the front seat of a car with the windows cracked about ½ inch. The dog was panting away and agitated. The car was facing into the sun and you could see the heat radiating off the car. So I asked the cashier in the drug store to make an announcement. No Go. His boss would not let him, “the disruption of customers is against store policy.” With that information I found the shoppers on my own and had to request that one of them return to the vehicle and attend to the pup and remain with air conditioning running. They did so with great consternation and disbelief in my concern. Every year we hear about children and pets suffering from and dying of heat stroke from being left in cars. Every year it’s in the news, and yet every year it keeps happening.
Canines and felines do not expel heat efficiently in hot environments. Their main mode of heat transfer is panting and they can transfer some heat from their foot pads, nose, and ears, but they do not sweat or have the large surface area like our exposed sweating skin, to transfer heat. If the interior temperature of the vehicle is close to that of their body temperature (99 Fahrenheit -102.5 Fahrenheit) then they will not be able to cool off and can suffer from heat stroke very quickly.
The second issue is the physics of heat collection in the car. The infrared radiation (IR) that passes through the glass into the car is trapped and far greater than the IR energy escaping the car. The car continues to heat up. Even if it’s relatively comfortable outside let’s say 75 Fahrenheit, and the windows are cracked open, on a clear day, the car can heat up to 100 degrees (F) in less than 15 minutes and can cause heat stroke and death in pets! Short faced breads like Bull Dogs, Boston Terriers, Pugs, etc, are at a greater risk of heat stroke.
SO, what to do:
If you come across a pet or child left alone in a vehicle on a warm, sunny day, tell the store manager to make announcement, quickly find the owner and non-confrontationally explain that their pet is in danger of heat stroke. If you are not able to find the owner or the owner does not respond to the situation then, you may have to call the police in order to save a life!
If your companion animal is suffering from heat stroke:
Best wishes;
Eric R. Hurwit, DVM
The second issue is the physics of heat collection in the car. The infrared radiation (IR) that passes through the glass into the car is trapped and far greater than the IR energy escaping the car. The car continues to heat up. Even if it’s relatively comfortable outside let’s say 75 Fahrenheit, and the windows are cracked open, on a clear day, the car can heat up to 100 degrees (F) in less than 15 minutes and can cause heat stroke and death in pets! Short faced breads like Bull Dogs, Boston Terriers, Pugs, etc, are at a greater risk of heat stroke.
SO, what to do:
- DO NOT LEAVE THEM IN THE CAR!
- Leave them at home in cool environment and with plenty of water.
- Go through the drive-thru if available.
- If you have to take a pet with you, have someone go with you and stay in the car with the air conditioning running.
- Go before or shortly after sun rise or after sunset.
If you come across a pet or child left alone in a vehicle on a warm, sunny day, tell the store manager to make announcement, quickly find the owner and non-confrontationally explain that their pet is in danger of heat stroke. If you are not able to find the owner or the owner does not respond to the situation then, you may have to call the police in order to save a life!
If your companion animal is suffering from heat stroke:
- Get them out of the vehicle or location and into the shade.
- Water them down with a hose or bottled water. Get their ears, chest, arm pits, belly, and groin wet. It should not be ice cold as this can lead to shock and can over cool them. Water soaked towels work as well.
- Keep their mouth wet (with a little water if conscious), and their nose and mouth clear.
- Get them to the veterinary hospital as soon as possible for further treatment and assessment. It is important to have them seen immediately even if they seem back to normal.
Best wishes;
Eric R. Hurwit, DVM