Summer has finally arrived on Cape Cod! Unfortunately,
VACC has already lost one patient because she was left in a hot car. Remember, 70 degrees is too hot to leave a dog in the car, even if the windows are cracked. If you aren't sure if it's too hot, be on the safe side and leave your dog at home. In
this video, veterinarian Dr. Ernie Ward show us just how hot it can get inside a parked car. The chart below shows how extreme the difference in temperature can be inside a car as opposed to the outside temperature.
If you must bring your pet with you, bring an extra key, so you can lock your pet inside with the air conditioner running.
If you come across a dog inside a parked car on a hot day, here's what to do:
- Have someone stay with the dog and watch for signs of heat stroke:
- Excessive panting or drooling
- Bright red tongue and gums
- Difficulty breathing
- Vomiting
- Confusion or disorientation
- Bloody diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Collapse or seizure
- Call animal control or the police. They will need to know the location of the vehicle, as well as the make, model, color, and plate number.
- Ask nearby businesses to page the owner of the vehicle.
If the dog appears to be suffering from heat stroke, it needs to be removed from the car as soon as possible. The safest thing to do in this situation is to find the owner and have them remove the dog. Be aware that while
some states have laws that offer protection to an individual who enters a vehicle to rescue an animal in danger, Massachusetts does not. Should you make the decision to remove the dog yourself, be sure to call the authorities before you do so and inform them of the situation. It is also a good idea to have a witness with you who can back up your story, if needed. Before breaking the windows of a vehicle, check to see if the doors were left unlocked. Have a leash ready for the dog, and be careful that it doesn't bite you. In these situations you need to be ready for the owner of the dog to be hostile as well- another reason to wait for the local authorities! Once the dog is out of the car, offer some cool (not ice cold!) water to drink, use the same temperature water to wet the dog down, and get it to a veterinarian as quickly as you can- preferably in an air conditioned vehicle.
