Is It Too Hot to Take My Dog On Errands Today?
Is it too hot to take my dog for a ride? I am only going to run a few errands; I will only be a minute…
Answer
Warm weather can literally be a killer for a dog left inside a car. Did you know that on warm days, the inside of a car heats up very quickly? When it is 85 degrees outside, the temperature inside a car, even one with the windows open a bit, can soar to 102 degrees in just 10 minutes and reach 120 in just half an hour. On hotter days, the temp will climb higher and faster. Even temps in the 70s can be dangerous.
Even leaving your dog “ for just a minute” may be too long. A dogs normal body temperature is 101-102.5. Dogs can withstand a body temp of 107-108 degrees for only a very short period of time before suffering brain damage- even death. Our “1 minute” trip to the post office could turn into 20 minutes if the line is long or we see someone we want to talk with.
Action to Take for Overheating
If your dog is overcome by the heat, immediately soak him or her in water and seek veterinary care as soon as possible.