You should never leave your pet in the car – the temperature inside can rise over 100 degrees in minutes. These temperatures can be fatal to our furry family members!

You know that moment when we get into our car that’s been parked in the sun all day. First, you notice how stuffy, then you reach for the seatbelt, or grab the steering wheel – ouch! So it’s no secret, the inside of cars get hot when they’re parked in the summer heat.

Also, you wouldn’t leave a child unattended in a parked car, even with the windows cracked. Why would anyone leave their pets? How many times have you seen a dog in the backseat, with a window or two cracked, while the owner is “just running a quick errand”?

The inside of cars can heat up fast, especially in the summer sun.

When it’s only 70 degrees outside, the inside of your car can reach over 100 degrees in less than 30 minutes. When the outside temperature is 80 degrees, the inside of your car will reach nearly 100 degrees in only 10 minutes!

Remember, our furry family members are wearing a fur coat that they can’t take off. That gives them a lot of insulation to keep the heat in. They also can’t sweat to cool themselves off like we can. Instead, they pant and can get dehydrated very quickly. Just being in those kinds of temperatures for a few minutes can lead to dehydration, overheating, and dangerous heat stroke. Review the signs of heat stroke, so you know what to watch for, and how you can start cooling your pet off even before you bring him to your veterinarian for emergency attention.