Leaving dogs in the car, even for a few minutes, is dangerous all year round (not just in summer)

Leaving dogs in the car, even for a few minutes, can be dangerous in both winter and summer. In fact, temperatures can exceed 25 °

He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him

Leaving dogs in the car is dangerous all year round, not only in summer but also in winter. High temperatures can endanger the life of our four-legged friends, even if they reach 25 °.

The new study was led by a team of dog welfare researchers at Nottingham Trent University. They found that temperatures inside cars are hot all year round to the point of posing a health risk to dogs both in winter and in summer.

To prove it, they have monitored temperatures UK car interiors, no dogs inside, every day for two years. They recorded temperatures above 25 ° C every month of the year, high enough to cause heatstroke in brachycephalic breeds - those with flat faces - such as bulldogs, French bulldogs and pugs.

Index

Heat peak between 16 and 17 pm

They also found that the hottest time of day (by car) was not noon but higher and therefore more dangerous internal temperatures occurred. between 16 and 17 when they often reached 35 °.

According to the researchers, most dogs are comfortable in temperatures between 15-25 ° C, but this depends on a number of factors.
including breed, coat length and fitness.

And it's not just summer that is scary. During their monitoring, the scientists found that the car's interior temperatures exceeded 35 ° C between April and September. Under these conditions, all dog breeds would have been at risk. Above 35 ° C, dogs pant to check their temperature, and if they are trapped in a hot car, their breathing will stop being effective as the temperature and humidity increase.

The highest temperature observed in the study was 54,5 ° C at 4,57 ° C in June 2018.

In closed vehicles, dangerous microclimate conditions can develop due to lack of air movement and this can result in reduced latent heat exchange for animals.

How to recognize heatstroke in dogs

The first signs of heatstroke in dogs are: wheezing, red or dark gums and tongue, confusion and instability leading to collapse, diarrhea, vomiting and even seizures that can lead to a coma. If the dog is not cooled down and treated quickly by a vet, he can risk dying.

Our work shows an even greater risk of leaving dogs in parked vehicles than previously thought, said Dr Anne Carter, researcher at Nottingham Trent School.

According to the study authors, their findings should be useful, through annual campaigns, to raise awareness of the risk of dogs getting sick and dying in hot cars not just in summer but all year round.

Because heatstroke can be fatal in dogs, public awareness campaigns should be launched in April or earlier, and could also include warnings about the increased risk for dogs in cars in the late afternoon.

Climate change, a risk even for dogs

According to Emily Hall, a researcher and veterinarian at Nottingham Trent University, the study is also important because climate change is causing global temperatures to rise and it is expected that heat waves become more frequent and extreme:

“The risk is not limited to being left in a vehicle. Many modern cars are equipped with air conditioning, but older models may have only vents or no ventilation mechanisms in the storage compartments. Dogs transported in these vehicles could be exposed to dangerously high internal temperatures during long journeys, particularly if the vehicle is stationary or queuing in the sun ”.

Never leave dogs in the car

It should go without saying, but sadly this is often not the case. Dogs should never be left alone in the car not even for a few minutes because the heat can be fatal:

“Many people still believe it's okay if the windows are left open or parked in the shade. We strongly advise dog owners to never leave them, even if it seems cold outside, ”concluded Runa Hanaghan, another veterinarian involved in the research.

The study was published in the Open Veterinary Journal.

Sources: Nottingham Trent University, Open Veterinary Journal