Be on guard for these signs of overheating in your dog or cat

Common sense tells most people that leaving their pets inside parked vehicles on hot, summer days could be dangerous after an extended period of time. But most people don’t realize that the temperature can skyrocket after just a few minutes. Parking in the shade or leaving the windows cracked does little to alleviate this pressure cooker.

On a warm, sunny day windows collect light, trapping heat inside the vehicle and pushing the temperature inside to dangerous levels on an 85-degree Fahrenheit day, for example, the temperature inside a car with the windows opened slightly can reach 102 degrees in 10 minutes. After 30 minutes, the temperature will reach 120 degrees. At 110 degrees, pets are in danger of heatstroke. On hot and humid days, the temperature in a car packed in direct sunlight can rise more than 30 degrees per minute and quickly become lethal.

Pets, more so than humans, are susceptible to overheating and are much less efficient at cooling themselves than people are.

Heatstroke symptoms include exaggerated panting (or the sudden stopping of panting), rapid or erratic pulse, salivation, anxious or staring expression, weakness and muscle tremors, lack of coordination, tongue and lips red (which may eventually turn bluish in color), convulsions or vomiting, collapse, coma and death.

If your pet shows symptoms of heatstroke, immediately move the animal to a cool, shady place,wet the dog with cool water, then fan vigorously to promote evaporation. This process will cool the blood, which reduces the dog’s core temperature. DO NOT apply ice, this constricts blood flow which will inhibit cooling. Take the dog to a veterinarian as soon as possible for further treatment.

While it is fun to take your pet with you on summertime excursions, make sure that you are going to pet-friendly places that will allow you to take them inside so you don’t have to worry about them in the hot car. It’s safer for your pet, and will give you a peace of mind.