Heat Dangers in Cars for Dogs
Why a Parked Car Can Become Deadly in Minutes
One of the most dangerous scenarios is leaving a dog in a parked vehicle — even briefly.
The temperature graph provided clearly demonstrates how quickly car interiors heat up:
- At 20°C / 68°F outside, the inside of a car can reach 36°C / 97°F within 30 minutes and 46°C / 115°F within 60 minutes.
- At 30°C / 86°F outside, interior temperatures can exceed 56°C /133°F within one hour.
- At 40°C / 104°F outside, temperatures may rise to 66°C / 151°F in 60 minutes.
Importantly, most temperature increase happens within the first 15–30 minutes. Slightly open windows do not significantly reduce this effect.
There is no safe waiting time. Even mild outdoor temperatures can become fatal inside a car.
Because of this, animal welfare organisations and veterinarians strongly recommend never leaving a dog unattended in a parked vehicle during warm weather (or above 20°C / 68°F)
