As a dog owner, it’s essential never to expose your dog to the dangers of being left in a hot car in summer, even for short periods.
Unfortunately, this happens more often than you might think, and it can happen to anyone: on a hot day you may feel forced to leave your dog in the car for a quick errand, without really considering the consequences of high or low temperatures when the dog is locked in the car unattended.
Before you decide to bring your dog in the car, whether it’s for a short trip or a long journey, you should think about whether it’s really best for the dog to come along, or whether it might be better to leave the dog at home or with a friend if you’ll be away for a longer time. If you choose to take your dog in the car, you should also consider whether there’s any chance you’ll need to leave the dog alone in the car during the trip and, if so, make sure the dog has what it needs to stay comfortable and well.
¶There are rules to follow when taking a dog in the car. According to the Swedish Board of Agriculture (Jordbruksverket), the following applies:
- The dog must be walked and offered water at least every six hours.
- When the car is stationary, the dog may be kept in a crate or in the cargo area of a station wagon for a maximum of three hours. It is therefore not allowed to leave a dog in the car for an entire workday.
- There are also rules about leaving a dog alone in a car when it’s warm. The basic rule is that a dog may not be left alone in a car without supervision if the temperature inside the car is expected to exceed +25°C. It’s important to remember that even if the car is in the shade, the temperature can quickly rise to dangerous levels, even if you crack a window or try to ventilate in some other way. In addition to temperature, you as a dog owner must also take humidity into account – the higher the humidity, the harder it becomes for the dog to breathe.
It’s well known that leaving a dog in a hot car is dangerous and harmful, but something many dog owners may not consider is how dangerous it can be to leave a dog in the car when it’s cold outside. The lower limit for cold is -5°C. This means that if there is a risk that the temperature in the car will drop below -5°C, the dog may not be left alone without supervision.
¶Breeds differ, and some tolerate heat/cold better than others
Different dog breeds have different sensitivity to heat and cold. A dog that can handle going for walks in -15°C may still find -5°C in a car much colder. When it’s below freezing outside, the temperature in a stationary car drops much faster than you might think. Because the dog also has limited space to move around, it’s harder for it to keep warm, and panting makes the body damp, causing it to cool down even more quickly.
¶The car’s space
It’s also important to think about the car’s space when the dog is coming along. The space must be large enough for the dog to stand and lie down without it being cramped or uncomfortable.
¶Hotter in the car than you might think
Many studies have been done on how the temperature in a car changes during the day. They show that the temperature inside the car becomes uncomfortably high already from early morning, even when the outdoor temperature isn’t very high. Here are some times and corresponding temperature increases from one such study:
- 08:30: +22°C outside, +23°C in the car
- 09:30: +22°C outside, +38°C in the car
- 10:30: +25°C outside, +47°C in the car
- 11:30: +26°C outside, +50°C in the car
- 12:30: +27°C outside, +52°C in the car
- 13:30: +27°C outside, +52°C in the car
- 14:30: +28°C outside, +50°C in the car
If people start to sweat and become short of breath when the temperature approaches +30°C, you can imagine how uncomfortable and dangerous it can be for a dog when the temperature rises above +25°C.
¶What happens when it gets too hot?
When the temperature starts to approach +25°C, it becomes uncomfortable and strenuous for the dog, and breathing becomes difficult. Panting increases humidity and makes the situation worse, causing the dog to overheat even faster.
Heat is physically and mentally stressful for a dog because dogs don’t sweat like humans and can’t regulate their temperature in the same way. Dogs have to pant or make contact with something cool to lower their body temperature. If it’s too hot, this doesn’t work, and when the air is too warm, panting can have the opposite effect and even become dangerous. If a dog suffers from heatstroke, it can have serious consequences and, in extreme cases, be fatal.
When the temperature instead drops below zero, the dog can suffer damage and health issues. Frostbite can occur on the ears and tail, as these are the most exposed parts of the body. If the dog becomes chilled internally, it starts to feel cold and its fur stands up to trap warmer air. The dog loses energy, starts to shiver and its muscles become stiff. Blood pressure drops and breathing becomes laboured. If the dog becomes too cold, it can fall into a coma and, in the worst case, die.
¶Preparation
No dog owner ever wants to deliberately expose their four-legged friend to discomfort or danger. If, for some reason, you need to leave your dog in the car for a short time, there are measures you can take to prepare both the dog and the car, whether it’s summer or winter.
To prevent your dog from overheating in the car during summer, you can:
- Park in the shade.
- Make sure the dog has access to cold water.
- Install tailgate guards or use a crate so that the tailgate or a door can be left open.
- Never leave the dog alone for a long period.
In winter, you can:
- Warm up the car properly before leaving the dog.
- Provide a blanket or warm bed for the dog to lie on.
- Never leave the dog for a long period.
It’s important to be aware of the risks and to take steps to ensure your dog’s safety and wellbeing in all situations where it may need to be left in the car.
