How Hot Is Too Hot for a Dog in the Car? This Hot

If you think you're doing your dog a favor by bringing him with you on hot summer days, think again.

The inside of the car heats up more quickly than you think, to levels that are dangerous for most dogs.

In a series of experiments over the course of the week, I left the car, with the thermometer in it, in various places, in various conditions, to see how quickly it would heat up.

'I just ran into the store to buy one thing'

In the first experiment, I left the car with the windows shut in a parking lot for an hour. It was 83 degrees outside. Inside the car, it was 108.

'But I parked in the shade'

Second, I parked the car in the shade, with the windows cracked. It was 81 degrees outside. In two minutes, the temperature inside the car had jumped to 86 degrees. In 10 minutes, it had climbed to 90 degrees.

'But the windows were cracked open'

Third, I parked the car in another spot, with the windows cracked. It was 83 degrees and overcast.

After five minutes, the temperature had climbed to 86 degrees.

In 10 minutes, the temperature inside the car was 90 degrees.

In 30 minutes, even with the clouds, and the windows open, the temperature inside the car had hit 100 degrees.

After an hour, the temperature outside had climbed to 94 degrees, and the temperature inside the car was 110.

WHILE DOGS HAVE higher body temperatures than we do, the only way they can release heat is through their mouths and the pads of their paws.

Like people, different dogs can tolerate different levels of heat. Older dogs are more susceptible to heat stroke, as are dogs with short noses (pugs, Pekingeses, etc.), dogs with dark coats, and of course, dogs with thick coats. Also, dogs who are overweight or in poor general health.

Signs of heat stroke, according to msnbc.com are excessive panting or drooling, very fast breathing, a dark or bright red tongue or gums, staggering, or bloody diarrhea or vomiting.

CLARKSTOWN ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER Patricia Coleman says that the smart thing to do is to leave the dog at home, even if you don't have air conditioning. Leave plenty of water, and put on a fan if you have one.

"People don't realize how hot it gets in a car," Coleman said. "Most of the time people don't mean to be cruel by leaving their dog in the car — they cared enough about their dog to take them with them. But a car is no place for a dog to be left in summer."

If she sees a dog in a car in a dangerous situation, Coleman says, she can issue a summons for cruelty.

If she can't find the owner of the car, and the dog is suffering, Coleman said she works with police officers to rescue the dog. Coleman said that since January, a new law gives police officers the authority to break a car window to rescue an animal.

IF YOU SEE A DOG - or any animal - locked in a car in a situation that you think is dangerous, you can ramp up your courage and seek out the owner of the vehicle and explain why he or she should get the dog home, or you can call local police.

There are ways to help your pet stay cool at home. Many pets enjoy the breeze from a fan. You can put ice in your pet's water. If your dog is at all amenable, you can run a hose over him or her. The evaporating water will help him feel cool. Likewise, a cool, wet cloth wrapped or draped around his neck will help. If you have your act together, you can freeze the bandana or cloth and put it on your dog just before you take him out walking.

Make sure your dog has plenty of water!

Coleman said the problem of dogs in cars is a frequent one over the weekends, especially at malls and shopping centers. However, Coleman warns that another common problem she finds is dogs suffering fatal exposure to the heat by being kept on backyard decks.

"I the morning when everyone was home the deck was in the shade, but later on the deck is completely in the sun," said Coleman. "Don't leave your dog out on the deck all day."

Coleman also warns that homeowners should make sure their garbage cans are securely closed this time of year so stray animals don't get into the garbage cans and die there. Coleman said she had an incident in Clarkstown on Thursday when a homeowner had to deal with a young racoon that had gotten into a garbage can and died there because of the heat.