It is important to remember that pets like dogs and cats cannot control their body temperature by sweating as humans do since they only have a relatively small number of sweat glands located in their footpads. Their primary way of regulating body temperature is by panting or sweating through their feet. This makes them very susceptible to heatstroke and heat exhaustion. Heatstroke caused by overheating can lead to multiple organ failure and death.

Never leave pets in your car on warm days.

Even on a relatively mild day, temperatures in parked cars can become dangerous in a matter of minutes. For example, on a 21C day, a car can heat to 32C in 10 minutes! The longer you wait, the higher it goes. At one hour, your vehicle’s inside temperature can be more than 40 degrees higher than the outside temperature – on a 21-degree day, that’s 43 degrees Celsius inside your vehicle! Opening or lowering the windows does little or nothing to slow this process.

Every year, PETA receives reports about dogs, cats, and other animals who have died after being left in hot cars or outside during hot weather. In 2023 alone, 163 animals endured heat–related deaths and another 855 were rescued from the heat—and those are just the ones that were reported. The BC SPCA receives over 1000 calls to their animal help line every year reporting dogs in hot cars.

What should I do if I see a pet in distress in a hot car?

If you see an animal in distress in a parked vehicle, take these steps:

• Note the license plate, vehicle colour, make and model and ask managers of nearby businesses to page the owner to return to their vehicle immediately. If the animal is not showing signs of distress, but you are concerned, you may wish to stay by the vehicle to monitor the situation until the owner returns.
• If the animal is showing clear signs of heatstroke or other distress symptoms, call your local animal control agency, police, RCMP or the BC SPCA Animal Helpline at  1-855-622-7722 as soon as possible. The BC SPCA has a limited number of constables – if one is not available in the area the Animal Helpline can advise you about other emergency numbers to call so that help will arrive as quickly as possible.

Do NOT break the window

While most people mean well when they say they’d be willing to break a glass window to get an animal out of a roasting vehicle, it’s strongly recommended you don’t.

• Only RCMP, local police, and BC SPCA Special Constables have the authority to enter a vehicle lawfully to help a pet in distress.
• Not only are you putting yourself at risk when you break a glass window, but you also risk harming the dog.

What are the signs and symptoms of pet heatstroke?

Signs of heatstroke in dogs include:

• Exaggerated panting (or the sudden stopping of panting).
• Rapid or erratic pulse.
• Salivation (drooling), anxious or staring expression.
• Weakness and muscle tremors or lack of coordination.
• Convulsions or vomiting, and collapse.

Cats may display similar signs, but they may be more subtle.

 What to do if your pet is showing signs of heatstroke

• Move your pet to a cool, shady place.
• Wet the animal with cool water.
• Do not apply ice as this will constrict blood flow and discourage cooling.
• Fan your pet to promote evaporation. This cools the blood, helping to reduce the animal’s core temperature.
• Allow your pet to drink some cool water (or to lick ice cream if no water is available).
• Take your pet to a veterinarian as soon as possible for further treatment.

To find out more about heatstroke and dehydration in pets and what to do, check out our summer hazards blog.

If you think your pet is suffering from heatstroke, Boundary Bay is open 24/7 for emergencies. We are VECCS Level 1 certified, and are capable of handling even the most critical, life-threatening emergencies and trauma, with specialists on staff and on-call to handle any medical or surgical issue. 

Please come directly to our hospital, no appointment required. If you have time, please call us to let us know you’re on the way at (604) 514-8383.