Hot cars a deathtrap for dogs
With summer here vets and the SPCA are reminding dog owners not to leave their pets in hot cars.
Kerikeri Veterinary Clinic vet surgeon Roger Barnard says it’s better to leave them at home.
‘‘If they’re [owners] not prepared to sit in there, don’t let the dog.
‘‘They need the ventilation, often they get overheated in there.
‘‘I know lots of dogs that have died in cars. I’ve had a couple of people that have arrived in the clinic with a dead dog, because they’ve overheated.
‘‘It gets very hot in the car within minutes.’’
SPCA chief executive Andrea Midgen says dogs only sweat a small amount through their paws and rely on panting to cool down.
‘‘In a hot car, even with the windows slightly open, panting is not enough to keep their body temperature cool.’’
On a day when it’s 20C outside, the temperature in a car parked in the shade with the windows down can reach over 39C within 10 minutes and can rise to a deadly 49C in less than half an hour.
A dog can withstand a body temperature of 41C for a short amount of time before it suffers irreparable brain damage and then death.
Just 15 minutes can be enough for an animal’s body temperature to climb from a normal 38.5C to a dangerous level.
Kerikeri OK K9s dog trainer Rebecca Roper says if pet owners must bring their dogs into town, they should consider leaving them at the doggie day care centre.
‘You’ve got to think of the safety of your dog as well as the public,’’ Roper says.
‘‘Never leave dogs in car...it only takes five minutes for it to be insufferable.
‘‘So do your dog a favour and leave him at home.’’
SPCA Bay of Islands Centre Manager John Logie says in summer, they get a couple of calls a week about dogs left in cars and have had to break the window to rescue the animal on occasion.
‘‘Although we attend those ones we are told about there must be others...it’d be a terrible way to lose an animal by not understanding how quickly the temperature rises.
‘‘It doesn’t take long for the animal to die. Once it goes into distress and its overheating it can’t cool down quick enough.’’
The SPCA advise people to call 09 407 7515 or the police if they see a distressed dog in a vehicle.