Hot Cars a Death Trap for Dogs, Says County Vet

With heat indexes reaching 100 degrees this week, it’s important to not only keep yourself safe from heat exposure, but your pet too.

In order to help keep your dogs safe in rising temperatures, Dr. Jessica Heard with Severna Park Veterinary Hospital provided Patch with some tips. Heard said different breeds of dogs have different issues with the heat, but owners should use caution with all pets on hot days.

During last summer's rising temperatures, Anita Moore, of Animal Clinic of Wayson’s Corner in Lothian, gave advice for keeping pets safe.

Moore said that while cats are usually very aware of their surroundings, such as the temperature, dogs don’t react much when it’s extremely hot outside.

“Dogs just don’t know when to stop. Don’t expect your dog to have enough common sense to get out of the sun. I’ve seen too many of them come [into my office] from overheating,” Moore told Patch in 2012. “They’re not smart enough to recognize when they’re sick from the heat.”

Here are some more recommendations form Heard on keeping furry friends safe on hot summer days:

Dogs with short noses need extra attention 

Any dog breed with a snort nose or flat face (bull dogs, pugs, boxers) can be prone to Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome, which causes upper airway problems. 

“Dog breeds with short noses have a harder time cooling themselves in the heat and humidity,” Heard said. “Dogs can’t sweat, so they get rid of a lot of heat though their mouth.”

Dogs with shorter noses have more difficulty managing the heat.

Heard also said Northern breed dogs—that have heavier coats—also have trouble dealing with the heat. She said a thick coat provides some insulation from the heat, but not enough to keep it from heating up quickly on a hot day. 

Beware of hot pavements

When temperatures heat up, Heard said they see an increase in pavement or asphalt burns.

“People take their dogs for a walk and just don’t realize how hot the ground is,” Heard said. “If you can’t put your bare feet on it for more than a minute, your pet shouldn’t be walking on it either.”

In the Severna Park area, Heard said pet owners who often take their dogs for walks on the Baltimore Annapolis trail, need to make sure they are walking in the shade.

Don’t let your dog wear him or herself out

If your dog is playing outside on a hot day, Heard said it’s important for owners to minimize their activity. Certain breeds like labs and golden retrievers will wear themselves out without even realizing it.

“The dogs themselves are so eager to please that they will chase the ball until they collapse,” Heard said. “They don’t have a sense of judgment, and they will do it until they physical can’t do it anymore.”

A hot car is a death trap

One of the most common mistakes dog owners make on a hot day is leaving their pup in the car, which can be extremely dangerous. 

“Obviously cars are an absolute death trap for dogs in the summer time,” Heard said. “Really they can’t tolerate anything above 70 degrees for more than 10 minutes.”

When trapped in a hot car, Heard said a dog loses the ability to cool itself down. She said she sees cases of heatstroke in dogs each year because people just don’t realize how dangerous a hot car can be for a pet.