Do we sound like a broken record, Victoria?
It seems that no matter how many times authorities warn people not to leave their pets in cars on hot days, there will inevitably be some who still do.
Dogs can only regulate their body temperature by sweating from their nose and paws. When trapped inside a car surrounded by hot seats and other warm objects, it becomes even more difficult for them to release any sweat at all.
With an average body temperature of 39°C, a short time in a hot environment can quickly raise their temperature to 41°C, potentially leading to the risk of brain damage and even death.
Leaving the air conditioning running doesn’t help either. So, even cars with signs like “the A/C is on. He has water and is listening to his favorite music” still pose a risk to the animal inside them.
Owners may think they’re doing their pet a favour by bringing them along on errands, but leaving a dog in a car can be dangerous.
Dogs overheat quickly since they can’t sweat like humans. This is especially true for senior dogs and those with flat faces. It’s best to leave your dog at home where they have more space, water, and shade.
When you see an animal left in a car, check for symptoms of heat stroke. These include exaggerated panting (or the sudden stopping of panting), rapid or erratic pulse, salivation, anxious or staring expression, weakness and muscle tremors, lack of coordination, convulsions or vomiting, and collapse.
What to do if you can’t move the animal out of the vehicle
If the vehicle is parked, note down the license plate, colour, make and model, and get the managers of a nearby business to try and page the owner to return to their car right away.
If that fails call your local animal control agency, police, RCMP or the BC SPCA hotline at 1-855-622-7722 as soon as possible for assistance.
And if a window has been cracked open, the BC SPCA recommends trying to give water to the pet, or use a “battery-powered fan from a dollar store” to circulate air.
While the BC SPCA has a limited number of constables – if one is not available in the area the Animal Helpline can advise you about other emergency numbers to call so that help will arrive as quickly as possible.
If you can safely and legally move the animal out of the vehicle, follow these steps:
- Move the animal to a cool, shady place
- Wet the animal with cool water. Do not apply ice as this will constrict blood flow and discourage cooling
- Fan the animal to promote evaporation. This cools the blood, helping to reduce the animal’s core temperature
- Allow the animal to drink some cool water (or to lick ice cream if no water is available)
- Take the dog to a veterinarian as soon as possible for further treatment
While most people mean well when they say they’d be willing to break a glass window to get an animal out of a roasting vehicle, the it’s strongly recommended you don’t.
Only RCMP, local police, and BC SPCA Special Constables are legally allowed to enter a vehicle in that manner, you breaking a glass window might just make things worse.
Not only are you putting yourself at risk when you break a glass window, but you also risk harming the dog.
While we all love our pets, if it’s hot and you have errands to run, it might be safer to leave them at home and take them out later.
