Driving with your dog can be great fun, but you need to take steps to keep your pet cool and prevent dangerous overheating. Leaving a dog alone in a hot car, even for just a few minutes, can be fatal. So, How to Keep Dogs Cool in Car?
Follow these tips to safely travel with your pooch when the temperatures climb.
How to Keep Dogs Cool in Car
Heatstroke is a real threat to dogs left unattended in vehicles on warm days. A car’s interior heats up incredibly fast, even with the windows cracked. In just 10 minutes, the temperature inside a car can soar to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. After 30 minutes, it can reach over 100 degrees inside the car – even when it’s only 72 degrees outside!
The extreme heat puts dogs at risk of brain damage and death from heatstroke. Warning signs include heavy panting, lethargy, and vomiting. Heatstroke requires immediate veterinary treatment to prevent permanent injury or death. Simply put, you should never leave your dog alone in the car on a warm day.
Preparing for a Car Ride with Your Dog
To keep your dog comfortable and safe, preparation is key.
- Bring plenty of drinking water and a bowl so your dog can hydrate.
- Feeding your dog a light meal before the trip to prevent car sickness.
- Equip your car with sunshades, cooling mats, and ventilation accessories.
- Pack a small towel you can wet and use to wipe down your overheated dog.
- Know the route and places to stop for bathroom and exercise breaks.
- Have your vet’s phone number handy in case of an emergency.
With the right gear and plans beforehand, you and your dog will be road trip-ready.
Here are tips suggested by “American Kennel Club[AKC], Traveling in Summer With Your Dog By Car”:
- Keep your dog cool in the car by putting ice packs wrapped in a towel in their crate. Make sure the crate is well-ventilated.
- Use a cooling pad as a bed or crate liner.
- Put a sunshade on your car windows.
- Bring along fresh water and a bowl, and a tarp or tent, so you can set up a shady spot when you stop. Keep a spray bottle filled with water to spritz your dog with to cool them down.
Avoid Driving with Your Dog in Extreme Summer Heat
Some conditions are simply too hot for dogs to travel safely. On scorching 90+ degree days, it’s best to leave your dog at home. The heatstroke risk is too high, even with all the right precautions. If you absolutely must travel with your dog in extreme heat, take frequent breaks, blast the A/C, and watch closely for overheating signs.
Only drive short distances and avoid getting stuck in traffic. Simply put, it’s better to wait for cooler temperatures than put your dog at risk when the mercury skyrockets.
Keeping Your Dog Cool Inside the Car
Once you’re on the road, use these tips to keep your furry companion cool and prevent overheating.
Park in the Shade to Keep the Car Cooler
Look for shaded parking when running errands with your dog. Trees, covered garages, and structures create shade that helps keep your car interior cooler. Avoid parking in direct sunlight whenever possible. Use windshield sunshades on sunny days, even when parked in the shade. The extra insulation helps maintain a cooler temperature inside your car.
Crack the Windows for Ventilation and Airflow
Partially open the windows to allow fresh air to enter your parked car. This ventilation and airflow is vital for keeping your dog cool. Roll down the rear windows several inches on both sides of the car to create cross-breezes. Just make sure your dog can’t jump out when they’re open! Never leave a dog unattached in a car with fully open windows, as they may escape or be stolen.
Use Reflective Sun Shades on All Windows
Invest in sun shades to block sunlight and keep the interior cooler. Fit them to all windows – especially the windshield, side windows, and rear window. Reflective silver shades work best. You can buy custom shades or DIY versions like cardboard or reflective space blankets. Make sure to secure them well so they don’t fall off while driving. Keep an eye on your dog to ensure the shades aren’t making your car too dark.
Place a Cooling Mat or Bed in the Back Seat
Special dog car beds and mats contain cooling gels or water pockets. The chill from these beds transfers to your dog’s body to prevent overheating. Place the mat in the back seat or cargo area so your dog can lay on it during the drive. Recharge cooling pads and beds in the fridge between uses. Upgrade to an electric cooling mat that plugs into the car for longer trips.
Maintaining Safety and Comfort in the Car
Use good judgment when travelling in car to keep your dog secure, healthy, and stress-free.
Take Regular Breaks for Drinking, Bathroom Visits and Exercise
Plan to stop every 1-2 hours when driving with your dog. Open all the doors and allow them to get out of the car to drink, relieve themselves, and get moving. Walk your dog on a leash for at least 10-15 minutes during each pit stop. These periodic breaks prevent restlessness and overheating. Never leave dogs unattended at rest stops. Bring a collapsible bowl and bottle of water to offer your dog drinks.
Use the A/C and Adjust Vents to Reach Your Dog
Run the air conditioning to maintain a comfortable temperature when driving with your dog. Adjust and direct the dash vents so the cool air reaches your dog in the back seat. Keep the air set to low or medium strength, high-velocity air can dry out nasal passages. Monitor your dog’s comfort level and increase the cool air as needed. Close the windows if AC alone isn’t keeping your dog cool.
Watch for Signs of Overheating Including Panting and Restlessness
Frequently check on your dog and watch for early signs of overheating. These include excessive panting, thick saliva, reddened gums, restlessness, and attempts to vomit. Pull over immediately if you notice these warning signs. Move to a shaded area, offer water, and use cool towels to help your dog’s body temperature come down gradually. Call a vet if symptoms persist after cooling efforts.
Never Leave Your Dog Alone in the Car, Even with the Windows Down
It only takes minutes for a car’s interior to reach deadly temperatures. Dogs left alone can succumb to heatstroke in just 15-20 minutes. Simply put, never leave your dog unattended in the car on warm days, even if the windows are cracked open. Take your dog with you when quick errands or leave them safely at home. Their life depends on it.
How to Treat Heatstroke in Dogs
If your dog is overheating or shows signs of heat exhaustion, take action right away:
- Move them into a shade or cooler area
- Wet their paws, belly, and ears with cool (not cold) water
- Offers small drinks of water
- Direct air conditioning or breezes towards them
- Call your vet immediately
Without prompt veterinary treatment, heatstrokes can lead to organ damage, brain damage, and even death in dogs. Warning signs requiring an emergency vet visit include:
- Heavy panting or difficulty breathing
- Bright red or purple gums and tongue
- Vomiting or diarrhoea
- Collapsing or inability to stand
- Seizures
While en route to the vet, continue cooling efforts by running the AC, offering water, and wiping with cool wet towels. Vets will likely administer IV fluids and take steps to further lower the dog’s core temperature to treat heat stroke.
Prevention is always best! Be sure to take precautions to keep your dog cool and never leave them unattended in warm vehicles. With precaution and care, you can travel safely with your pet when the mercury rises.
FAQs
How to keep dogs cool in car?
There is no 100% safe temperature to leave dogs unattended in vehicles. Even when it’s 60-70 degrees F outside, car interiors reach dangerous temperatures very quickly that put your dog at risk of heat stroke and death. It’s always safest to bring your dog with you when running errands.
How long can a dog be left in a car when it’s 70 degrees outside?
Even when it’s only 70F outside, the inside of a car heats up very quickly. Most veterinarians recommend never leaving your dog alone in the car, no matter the outside temperature, as conditions can turn deadly in just minutes.
How long does it take for a dog to get heat stroke in a hot car?
Heat stroke can set in for unattended dogs in just 15-20 minutes when the car interior gets extremely hot. In some cases, irreversible organ damage and brain damage can occur in less than 10 minutes in intense heat. Leaving the windows cracked makes little difference.
What should you do if you see a dog trapped in a hot car?
First, try to locate the car owner inside nearby businesses. If the owner can’t be found, call 911 or local animal control immediately. They may be able to legally gain entry to the car to rescue the dog. Have someone wait by the car in case the owner returns.
How can I cool down my overheated dog right away?
Move them into shade or an air-conditioned room. Apply cool, wet towels to their head, and neck belly to gradually lower their body temperature. Let them drink small amounts of cool water. Call your vet right away, heat stroke requires prompt emergency medical care.
Conclusion
Keeping your dog cool and comfortable is a must when travelling together in hot weather. Preparation, ventilation, shade, rest breaks, and A/C are key to preventing overheating and heatstroke.
Recognizing early signs of distress, and knowing how to respond quickly. With smart precautions, you and your pet can have many fun and safe summer road trips ahead!
Reference:
- How to Keep Your Dog Cool in Extreme Heat Without Air Conditioning | AKC
