Hot Weather Tips for Companion Animals

Hot cars are deadly! It only takes minutes!

On hot --or even warm-- sunny days, the inside of a car heats up very quickly: it only takes 10 minutes for the inside of a car to heat up to 102 degrees, and can rapidly rise to 160 degrees.

What to Know

• A dog's normal body temperature is 101.5 to 102.2 degrees.
• A dog can withstand a body temperature of 106 to 108 degrees for only a very short time before suffering irreparable brain damage - or even death.
• The extreme heat of a sealed, hot car interferes with a dog's normal cooling, evaporation through panting.

Look for signs of heat exhaustion in your dog, like excessive panting and lethargy. If the animal is overheated, you should do the following:

• immediately cover the animal with a cool, wet towel until the body temperature lowers;
• keep the animal's feet cool and moist;
• give your pet small amounts of water to drink; and
• consult with a veterinarian immediately to determine if additional treatment is needed.

Citizens concerned about unsupervised animals left in hot cars should call Boulder Police Dispatch at 303-441-3333.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 26 June 2012 11:20