We're too hot!

Because TLC's rescue shop is located in a high traffic mall, every week or so someone leaves their pooch in the car in the summer heat.  Not knowing exactly what to do, people come into the rescue shop to report it.

It is illegal in California to do this.  It's the law - and bear in mind - any peace officer, humane officer or animal control officer is able (legally) to break into your car to remove a pet you have left there in the heat!  Not only will you be fined, you'll have to pay to have your window or door repaired as well... plus whatever vet/hospital costs to treat your pet!

Pets suffer greatly from heat exhaustion and stroke - faster than humans do - and dogs do not have sweat glands like humans do... just a few on their feet.  They cannot perspire and rid the excess heat by panting.  As the temperatures rise, even panting can only help so much.  Heat stroke occurs when normal body mechanisms cannot keep the body's temperature in a safe range. Dogs with heavy coats, heart or respiratory troubles, those who are exercising too much in the heat, as well as overweight, very young, infant, and elderly dogs all need special consideration in the heat and have a greater likelihood of developing heat stroke.

HEAT STROKE SYMPTOMS INCLUDE:

• A rapid or erratic heartbeat/pulse
• Rapid breathing, or struggling for breath
• Increased, excessive, loud, heaving, irregular panting or the sudden stopping of panting
• A very high body temperature - usually, cell damage begins to occur at body temperatures over 106 degrees
• Excessive drooling, or frothing at the mouth
• Dark red gums
• Vomiting
• Barking or whining
• Anxiety or agitation
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Lack of coordination - stumbling and/or trouble standing or walking
• An anxious, vacant, or staring expression
• Listlessness or weakness
• Shaking or seizures
• Dry mouth and nose
• Lack of urine production
• Weakness and muscle tremors
• Glazed eyes and/or dilated pupiis
• Vomiting and/or diarrhea
• Collapse or unconsciousness

Animals showing these signs need immediate medical treatment.  So take the dog to a veterinarian or animal emergency room NOW. If your pet starts to retch and vomit, this can be a sign that the body temperature is reaching 109 degrees Fahrenheit. Soon after, the dog will go into shock, followed by possible seizures and a loss of consciousness. These are all serious signs and the dog must see a veterinarian immediately. This is an EMERGENCY! Even at the earliest stage of heat stroke, you may be fighting for your dog's life. If not treated immediately, these symptoms can be followed in minutes by collapse, seizures, coma, and death.

If untreated, hyperthermia (heat stroke) results in kidney, liver and/or heart failure. Dogs who are treated after a significant delay may survive, but could be left with permanent effects such as blood clotting disorders, metabolic abnormalities, muscle damage, and/or brain dysfunction, etc.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT HEAT EXHAUSTION AND/OR STROKE:
This is a life threatening situation and needs immediate veterinarian attention. There are a few things you can do if your vet has to call you back or on the way to the veterinarian's office or emergency room:

1. Immediately move the dog to a cooler area. Place the dog in a shady area or put a large umbrella over him/her.
2. Offer the pup small amounts of water (too much water may cause the dog to vomit and add to your pet’s dehydration).
3. If the dog will not drink of his/her own accord, then wipe the mouth area with a clean, wet cloth.
4. Sponge down the whole body, including tummy and groin area with COOL, not cold water. Cold water will cause blood vessels to constrict and will stop the heat from escaping. This could send your dog into shock from the sudden drop in body temperature.  NEVER throw buckets of water over the dog, or throw him/her into cold water, as these actions will almost certainly put the dog into shock, making the situation far worse than it already is!
5. If you do not have an electric fan, improvise one with a towel or something that will cause a draft around the wet dog; however, do not do anything that might panic him/her unnecessarily. Fanning the dog will help to cool him/her through the process of evaporation. If the dog has collapsed, continue with the above steps until professional help arrives. Be prepared to carry out cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) should it become necessary. The dog needs electrolyte replacement and oral replacement is not sufficient. The electrolytes need to be replaced through intravenous (IV) administration.

"But I am just going to be 5 minutes".... How many times have we all heard this?  When it is 75 degrees outside, in 10 minutes the temperature inside your car can reach 100 degrees.  At 85 degrees, the inside of your car will reach 90 degrees in 5 minutes.  A dog's normal body temperature is 99.5 to 102.5º.  At 105 to 106º, the pet is at risk for developing heat exhaustion. If the body temperature rises to 107º, your pet has entered the critical zone of heat stroke. With heat stroke, irreversible damage and death can occur... yes, in less than 5 minutes.





Be an advocate for dogs left in cars - print out the flyers and keep in your car... See a dog in a car?  Leave it on the owner's windshield!