Why you should never leave your dog in the car - even for a while

Dogs are hardy animals and can tolerate many things, but heat is not one of them. Leaving your best friend in a closed car is cruel and sometimes even fatal, even if it takes fifteen minutes. The Quartz experts are sure of this.

The reason for this recommendation

This is because a closed car interior heats up very quickly. Even on a cool day with temperatures around 22 degrees Celsius, one hour in the sun is enough for the temperature in the car to rise to 47 degrees.

On a moderately warm day (27 degrees), 10 minutes is enough for the temperature in the car to rise to 37^оC. Outside temperatures above freezing 32 are normal for summer in many regions. This year, ten minutes is enough for the thermometer to show +49^оC.

Dogs do not tolerate heat well

Remember that humans can handle heat better than their pets. It is more difficult for dogs to cool down (heat exchange occurs exclusively through the tongue), and if their body temperature reaches 41 degrees, they risk getting heatstroke. In such circumstances, only about 50% of the animals survive.

At 44 degrees, blood circulation is impaired and leads to clotting of blood in the vessels and to renal failure. In hot environments, a dog can reach this body temperature in just 6 minutes. And don't think that leaving the window ajar will save the day.

“Please don't break the glass. The air conditioner is working, there is water in the car and he is listening to his favorite music. " In some US states, it is completely legal to break someone else's car to save a dog from heatstroke.

Quartz insists that you shouldn't leave your dog in the car unless you leave the engine and air conditioner running. However, this is not recommended for other reasons. In some places, such as the US state of California, a person is legally allowed to break the window of a foreign car if the dog is locked inside.

Questions and answers:

How to ride in a car with a dog? The dog should not be able to freely walk around the cabin. To do this, you can transport it in a special cage or in a car hammock.

Do I need to harness my dog ​​in the car? Not necessary if there are other means to prevent the dog from moving freely around the cabin.

How do I leave my dog ​​in the car? The dog should not stay in the car for more than five minutes. In the heat, she can die from overheating, but in the cold she will not get warm. It is much better to leave the dog with one of the passengers.

How to keep your dog safe in the car? Fasten with a leash to a seat belt, install an auto hammock or a special dividing net, put on an anti-stress vest instead of a collar.