An average of 38 children die each year from vehicular heat stroke, according to Consumer Reports. Twenty-five percent of hot car deaths occur because the child accesses an unattended vehicle, not because a parent left them inside.
As for pets, hundreds of pets are rescued each year from being left in a hot car, and approximately fifty percent die or develop secondary life-limiting conditions.
Facts
The average temperature for a canine is from 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Heatstroke is a state of extreme hyperthermia with body temperatures of 106-109 degrees, resulting in thermal injury to body tissues.
Mortality from heatstroke is approximately 50% and worsens with every wasted second.
What To Do
First and foremost, do NOT apply ice. This changes the body temperature too abruptly and can lead to further complications.
DO apply tepid water, turn on the car’s AC, roll down the windows (evaporation) and immediately go to the closest veterinarian.
You may also use rubbing alcohol on the foot pads, inner ears, and belly to help increase heat expulsion, but the main priority is to get to the vet immediately.
What can a vet do that you can’t? Fluid replacement, aggressive cooling techniques, oxygen therapy, circulatory support, and monitoring of organ systems. Expect your dog to be in the hospital for a minimum of 24-48 hours if he survives, and the bill for this type of problem can quickly climb into the thousands of dollars, with zero guarantees of outcome.
Article takeaway:
DO NOT EVER LEAVE YOUR PET (OR YOUR CHILD) ALONE IN THE CAR. EVER.