With the warm weather here again, it’s always a good time to be reminded about just how serious keeping your dog in a car, without air-conditioning or big open windows, during the heat can be.
Instead of a lecture about how dangerous it is, let’s instead look at the numbers.
The numbers below are taken from a study done at San Francisco State University
🔥 How Quickly a Car Heats Up (Even with Windows Cracked)
| Outside Temp | Temp in Car After 10 Min | After 30 Min | After 60 Min |
| 70°F (21°C) | 89°F (32°C) | 104°F (40°C) | 113°F (45°C) |
| 80°F (27°C) | 99°F (37°C) | 114°F (46°C) | 123°F (51°C) |
| 90°F (32°C) | 109°F (43°C) | 124°F (51°C) | 133°F (56°C) |
🟠 Even with windows cracked, temperatures rise at nearly the same rate.
Some other information for you to keep in mind:
- A dog’s normal body temperature is 101–102.5°F (38.3–39.2°C). Heatstroke can begin at 105°F (40.5°C)
- Dogs can suffer organ failure or die in just 15–30 minutes in a hot car
- Heatstroke signs: heavy panting, glazed eyes, drooling, rapid heartbeat, vomiting, or collapse
So, as you can see, your car can quickly become a dangerous place to keep your dog, even for a short period of time. If you don’t believe us, here a great video to illustrate the point:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwEg1RoULBw
This summer, please leave your dog at home if you can’t take him with you when you get out your car.