Actually, everyone should know: in warm weather dogs do not belong in parked cars. Yet you see it again and again. What you can do as an outsider to help the animals.
A car parked in the sun at only 24 °C can reach an interior temperature of 48 °C within 20 minutes. For an animal inside, this can mean death within an hour. Even an open window offers no protection for the animal.
The dog days are here. Colloquially, this refers to summer heat periods. In Germany, they are calendared on the 23rd day of the year. July until 23. August. The origin of the name can be traced back to the beginning of the Roman Empire: more than two centuries ago.000 years ago, the star sirus, the brightest star in our night sky, could be seen rising in the "big dog" constellation at this time of day. In the meantime, due to the precession of the earth’s axis in germany, this astronomical phenomenon has been extended to the 25. August postponed.
So the dog days don’t really have anything to do with one of the most popular pets in the world. However, the name could be a good reminder during the hot days to watch out especially for the four-legged friends. Because despite education there are every year again fatalities because dogs are left in parked cars. When the master fails, the animals are dependent on outsiders. It is important to assess the situation correctly and show civil courage.
When is it too hot in the car?
A common mistake made by dog owners is to underestimate the heat buildup in the car. Even when the outside temperature is supposedly a pleasant 24 degrees, the temperature inside the car can rise to over 40 degrees. Especially dangerous: direct sunlight. In addition, dog owners should not forget how quickly a "short" trip to the supermarket can unexpectedly become protracted. As can be seen from the table, five minutes can already be torture for the animal.
Car heat trap: the temperature in the vehicle is often underestimated.
Even a supposedly shady spot doesn’t help much. It is also important to remember that the position of the sun changes and a cloudy sky can clear up from one moment to the next. So if you can’t guarantee a cool place with absolute certainty, you should postpone your excursion to cooler times of the day. Or even better: leave your four-legged friend at home or with friends.
How to recognize heatstroke in a dog?
It is a well-known fact that even healthy dogs pant in order to cool down. Extreme panting and nervousness are often the first signs of overheating. Furthermore, increased salivation, vomiting and diarrhea are among the symptoms, but these can also occur after rescue from the heat. If the dog is lying on its side, seems apathetic or even comatose, urgent action should be taken. The mortality rate of heat stroke is over 50%.
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What you can’t ignore: some breeds of dog are particularly susceptible to heatstroke. Brachycephalic breeds, i.e. short-headed breeds, run a greater risk of suffering heatstroke because their noses, which serve among other things to regulate body temperature, have been bred very small. These include french bulldogs, pugs, boston terriers, boxers, cavalier king charles spaniels, pekineses and pinschers.
first aid for an overheated dog
First of all, the animal should be brought into the cool as soon as possible. If the dog is still conscious, it should be offered water. Since it would put too much strain on the dog’s circulation, the water should not be ice cold. If the dog is already unconscious, it should be placed in a right lateral position to relieve the pressure on the heart. Keep the head and neck stretched out so that the tongue cannot slip down into the windpipe. If the dog is not breathing, his airway may be blocked by vomit. If this is the case, it must be manually removed from the mouth and neck as best as possible. In all cases, you should wet a blanket, towel or other textile, wrap it around the animal and take it to the veterinarian as soon as possible.