Pets can die in hot cars
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Information courtesy of Southshore Veterinary Clinic
LAKE COUNTY — When summer heat burns through Montana, it’s time to leave the pets at home. Because cars trap the sun’s heat much like a greenhouse, leaving a pet inside a car for even a few minutes — even in shade with the windows cracked — can quickly cause brain damage or even kill a furry friend.
A study by the Animal Protection Institute compared temperatures in a shaded area. The outside temperature was measured as was the the inside of a vehicle when all four windows were closed and again when all windows were open slightly.
The study showed when the outside temperature was 82 degrees Fahrenheit, inside the closed vehicle it was 109 degrees F. When the temperature rose to 100 degrees, the car was 124 degrees inside.
Cracking all four windows helped, but temps were still too unsafe for a dog to survive. At 90 degrees, the inside still rose to 108. At 95 degrees, the interior hit 113 degrees.
A dog’s normal temperature ranges from 101 to 102.5 degrees F. Dogs can withstand a body temperature of up to 108 for only a very brief period of time before suffering brain damage or death. Even leaving a dog for “just a minute” may be too long.
If a dog is overcome by heat, immediately soak the animal with water and seek veterinary care.
