ENCINITAS–A quick stop at a convenience store on a hot day can be deadly for a dog, child, elderly person, or others with medical issues.
Rancho Coastal Humane Society spokesman John Van Zante demonstrated the dangers of dogs left in hot vehicles by locking himself in a closed vehicle on Monday at the shelter in Encinitas.
“High temperatures can kill. Common sense can save a life. The temperature in a closed vehicle can rise as much as 30 degrees in less than 2 minutes,” Van Zante said. “In the time it takes to go into a store and buy a loaf of bread, the temperature in your vehicle can become deadly.”
Van Zante added that most people are aware of hot closed vehicles, unfortunately the temperature rises much higher and much faster that they realize.
Owners don’t recognize the symptoms that their pets or family members are overheating. Dogs don’t sweat. They pant. When they can’t pant fast enough, and when the air is near their body temperature of around 103 degrees, it can cause heat exhaustion. Symptoms include rapid panting, reddening of their gums and the skin inside the ears, vomiting, and diarrhea.
If this occurs, take your dog to a cool place and offer it sips (not drinks) of water. Dampen the dog with cool (not cold) water.
If you discover the symptoms too late or the initial treatment isn’t enough, your dog could suffer heat stroke. Organs will shut down. If that happens, get emergency veterinary care. A dog may seem disoriented and walk like it’s drunk. Other symptoms include Confusion, Drooling, Dry gums, Lethargy, Loss of consciousness, Rapid heartbeat, Bleeding, Refusal to drink, and a Fever.
If you believe your dog is suffering from heat stroke, hose it down with cool (not cold) water then rush it to the nearest vet (even if it’s not your regular vet.). If its body temperature stays above 105 degrees, damage to the major organs (brain, heart, kidneys, liver) occurs.
