How Cars Become Deadly Heat Traps for Dogs
The University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Foundation appeals to pet owners: Please do not leave dogs in cars during hot weather!
Hanover. In high summer temperatures, a car can quickly become a life-threatening heat trap. The University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover (TiHo) therefore appeals to all dog owners: Never leave your dog in a vehicle in hot weather!
A quick shopping trip, a short visit to the parcel shop – even if the time seems brief, a car heats up quickly. Even at an outside temperature of 20 degrees Celsius, the interior of a non-air-conditioned vehicle can reach 46 degrees after just one hour. At 30 degrees Celsius, this temperature is exceeded after only half an hour. Temperatures that can quickly become life-threatening for dogs!
Dogs are particularly vulnerable to overheating in cars. They have a very limited ability to regulate their body temperature. Unlike humans, they have sweat glands only on their paws and nose, and regulate their body temperature almost exclusively by panting. The surface area for evaporation is limited, so cooling quickly reaches its limit – especially when the surrounding air is not circulating, which is the case in an enclosed space like a car.
Danger of Heatstroke:
What many don't know: "A dog's ability to cool itself by panting is already impaired when the ambient temperature exceeds 28 degrees Celsius," warns the veterinarian. The risk of the animals suffering heatstroke is therefore very high. The health consequences of overheating depend on the level of body temperature and the duration: If a dog experiences mild heat stress, characterized by fatigue and heavy panting, and is cooled down in time, the prognosis is positive that the dog will recover and suffer no lasting damage. In contrast, a full-blown heatstroke quickly becomes critical for the animal.
We speak of a fully developed heatstroke when the core body temperature exceeds 41 degrees Celsius. The animals show symptoms such as bloody vomiting and diarrhea; they have neurological deficits such as seizures or unconsciousness. If the body temperature rises above 43 degrees Celsius, heatstroke is usually fatal.
The risk to a dog's life is considerable in the case of heatstroke: despite intensive medical treatment, the mortality rate for affected animals is between 50 and 60 percent.
Particularly at risk are brachycephalic breeds – that is, short-nosed dogs such as pugs and bulldogs – old animals, as well as dogs with thick fur, obesity, or pre-existing conditions.
An overheated animal should always be taken to a veterinarian – even if it appears to have recovered. Heatstroke can have long-term health consequences, including chronic kidney disease and impaired muscle and nervous system function. If you find an overheated dog, it's crucial to move it to a shady spot as quickly as possible and cool it down. Air conditioning and ventilation are also helpful on the way to the vet. But even more importantly: dogs – and all other animals – should never be left in the car in summer.
Burns on Asphalt:
Even sidewalks and streets can become dangerous for dogs in the current extremely high temperatures. The ground, especially asphalt and dark paving stones, heats up so much that it can cause burns to a dog's paws. Dog owners are therefore advised to check the path surface before going for a walk: press the back of your hand against the ground for 7 seconds. If it's too hot for your hand, it's also too hot for your dog's paws.
In this summer weather, we recommend that all dog owners reduce their dogs’ activity levels and schedule walks for early morning and late evening. Dogs should be taken to a veterinarian if they show any heat-related symptoms, paw burns, or sunburn.
Important signs of overheating
- Very heavy, labored panting with a tense face. Excessive salivation (increased drooling).
- Restlessness, nervousness, or conversely: apathy and indifference.
- Movement disorders such as staggering or swaying.
- A glassy or fixed gaze.
- Redness of the mucous membranes and the inside of the ears.
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
- Panic behavior: The dog runs and tries to leave the car, scratching at doors or windows.
- Disturbances of consciousness up to and including unconsciousness.
- In severe cases, there are cramps, bluish discoloration of the mucous membranes (cyanosis), and circulatory collapse.
First aid measures
- Take the dog (out of the hot car) to a cool, shady place.
- If available, use something cold (anything below body temperature, 37 to 40 degrees Celsius, is helpful).
- Pour water over or immerse, create a draft.
- Offer water to drink, but do not force it.
- In case of unconsciousness: Place on your side, extend your head and neck to keep your airways clear.
- In case of cardiac arrest: mouth-to-nose resuscitation, chest compressions.
- Take the dog to the vet and keep it cool with air conditioning/a fan on the way.