Four paws warn: Dog never leave it alone in the car. Protect dog paws from burns.
Hamburg. Dog owners are responsible for protecting their four -legged friend from too high heat. Four paws pet expert and graduate biologist Dr. Sabrina Karl gives tips for the right behavior in hot weather and warns against letting dogs behind in the car alone.
Just quickly to the supermarket while the dog is waiting in the car? This can now be particularly dangerous. Especially when a car is in the sun, the temperatures inside can quickly rise to double. But also parking in the shade is not a solution. If it is just 20 degrees warm outside, the temperature in the car rises quickly to 36 degrees within half an hour. At the outside temperature of 28 degrees, it is already 44 degrees in the car after 30 minutes. And at an outside temperature of 36 degrees, the car heats up to 52 degrees after only 30 minutes.
“After a few minutes, the car can be a danger for dogs: the temperature in the car can rise after only 10 minutes by up to seven degrees. From a temperature of 28 degrees, the dog has difficulties to cool off by panting in a natural way and the risk of a heat stroke increases. Since the normal body temperature of dogs is around 38 degrees, a very warm car can be used, for example, that a heat degree of 44 degrees is measured, for example Heat stroke suffers and dies by multiple organ failure.
Dogs are helplessly at the mercy of the heat in a closed car and cannot compensate for them solely by panting. Very important: Neither parking in the shade nor leaving a window gap can safely prevent a heat build-up, ”says Dr. Sabrina Karl, pet expert at four paws.
Dog in need: life goes before ownership
If you notice a dog in a closed, obviously overheated car, you can intervene as an observer and free the animal from its dangerous situation. “If you discover an animal in such an emergency, you should first see whether the owner is not somewhere nearby. If you are unsuccessful, if you call the police or fire brigade. In a particularly high heat or if the dog has been caught in the car for a long time, you shouldn't count every minute: Then you should not hesitate and take the pane. The four paws pet expert. As soon as the dog is freed, you should – depending on the condition of the animal – to put it in the shade and cool it carefully and slowly or visit a veterinarian directly.
Protect the paws from burns on asphalt
In warm weather, it is particularly important that the four -legged friend has access to fresh water and a cool berth at all times. Even walks at high temperature can quickly make the gas rounds to the ordeal: stretches on asphalt should be avoided, because this heats up quickly on mild summer days. “It is easy to test whether the surface is too hot for the dog paws: just hold the flat hand on the floor for a few seconds – it is hard to endure, it is too hot for a walk,” explains Dr. Sabrina Karl. In order to avoid possible burns on the paws and overheating, the walks should basically prefer to move to the early morning and evening hours and go on paths in the shade or in the forest.
The “air conditioning” of a dog sits in his nose
You should take special consideration for short -nasting breeds such as pugs or French bulldog. “A dog's body's own air conditioning sits in his nose. Basically, dogs try to compensate for the heat over increased panting. Short -nasting breeds can be anatomically worse,” said Dr. Karl. “High temperatures and physical exertion can therefore quickly become life -threatening for short -nasting breeds.”
If the dog is particularly heat -prone, you can offer it a special cooling mat or vest at home under supervision. And of course animals should always have access to fresh water – not only in summer.