Hot cars are death traps for dogs

For today I have decided to help some of my canine friends out there who's people they look after are some what less caring than mine.................

Five reasons not to leave your dog in the car this summer, even for "just a minute"

Pet owners must avoid leaving their dogs in hot cars this summer – a practice that can lead to serious illness and even death.

Leaving a dog in a hot car is dangerous and often deadly. Visit MyDogIsCool.com to learn more.

“Often people leave their dogs in the car while they shop or run errands, but doing so when the weather is warm can literally be a death sentence for your pet,” there are five reasons why leaving a dog in a hot car can be deadly:

1. Dogs are especially vulnerable to heat-related illness because they can only cool off by panting and through the pads in their feet.

2. Even on seemingly mild days, an enclosed car can be deadly., When it was 72 degrees outside, a car’s internal temperature climbed to 116 degrees within one hour.

3. Enclosed cars heat up quickly. It was 80 degrees outside, the temperature inside a car rose to 99 degrees in 10 minutes and 109 degrees in 20 minutes.

4. A dog’s normal body temperature is between 101 to 102.5 degrees; a dog can only withstand a high body temperature for a short time before suffering nerve damage, heart problems, liver damage, brain damage or even death.

5. Studies show that cracking the windows has little effect on a car’s internal temperature.

· To learn more about the dangers of leaving dogs in hot cars, visit www.MyDogIsCool.com.

*** FACTS ABOUT DOGS AND HOT CARS ***

What happens to dogs left in hot cars?

· Exposure to excessive heat causes the body’s cells to stop working properly and release dangerous chemicals, which can lead to nerve damage, heart problems, liver damage, brain damage and even death. Essentially, all of the dog’s organ systems shut down at once.

· Signs a dog is suffering from a heat-related illness include:

· Excessive panting

· Excessive drooling

· Increased heart rate

· Trouble breathing

· Disorientation

· Collapse or loss of consciousness

· Seizure

· Respiratory arrest

Visit MyDogIsCool.com to get educational materials, like this visually powerful poster.

· “Don’t Leave Me in Here – It’s Hot!” fliers that can be left on windshields

· Free downloadable posters that can be hung in store windows to remind customers not to leave their dogs in the car on a warm day