How to Monitor the Car Interior Temperature With a Dog in the Car
It's a myth that a dog's fur keeps the dog cool in the summer. Dogs overheat much more easily than humans and are not able to cool themselves as efficiently as a human. Monitoring a dog's comfort in the summertime is an important part of basic dog care. Dogs love a nice ride in the car but a hot car is one of the easiest places for a dog to suffer heat stroke. A car's temperature can easily climb to 120 degrees in the summer heat.
Instructions
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Monitor the temperature in any car where a dog is situated. It takes five minutes for the temperature in a closed car to climb to 30 degrees above the outside temperature. (When the outside temperature is below 72 degrees, the car temperature does not climb as quickly, but still must be monitored).
And, leaving car windows open is not the solution, according to the article Automobile Safety for Dogs on Familyeducation.com.
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Make sure a thermometer is always in the car if a dog will be left in the car, even for a few moments. The thermometer should have a radio transmitter.
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Keep the receiver of the transmitter in the central locking/alarm key fob while the dog is by himself in the car.
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Set the thermometer to trigger an alarm when the temperature in the car becomes too hot for the dog to tolerate. Most dogs will begin to show signs of heat stress when the temperature reaches 81 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Stay in the vicinity so that if the alarm is triggered it will be heard. The owner must be available to come immediately and remove the dog from the overheated car.
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Tips & Warnings
Never leave a dog in a car on a hot day. Even a few minutes in a hot car for some breeds can lead to organ damage or a heart attack. It's not worth the convenience of dashing out "for a moment" if it will place the dog in physical distress.
Always have fresh, cool water nearby so that the dog can drink. Even if the climate conditions are controlled properly, drinking frequently is a dog's best self-cooling mechanism.
Some dogs are extremely sensitive to heat and exhibit signs of heat stroke even if the car does not seem to be particularly hot.
Signs of heat-induced distress may include a dog who: pants excessively, staggers, has a rapid heartbeat, vomits, looks dazed, has low energy or exhibits dark red or purple gums and/or tongue. First aid for a dog who shows these symptoms are to move him to the shade or a cool room and place cold packs on his head, neck or belly. If possible, immerse the dog in cool water (not cold water) and give him small amounts of cool water or ice cubes to lick. Then contact a veterinarian for professional care as soon as possible.
