Leaving Your Great Dane Dog in a Parked Car

If you decided to take your Great Dane dog for a ride in your car, be responsible and don’t leave your dog in a parked car. If you know you will be leaving your car for an extended period of time, for instance, if your intentions are to shop, don’t take your Great Dane with you.

While it is relatively harmless to leave your Great Dane dog in a car unattended for a short period of time if you have the windows cracked, the same can not be said on a hot summer day.

It doesn’t take long for the inside of a car to reach dangerously high temperatures on a hot day. Therefore, regardless if the windows of the car are cracked or not, your Dane can still suffer heat exhaustion. Heat exhaustion is a condition that can lead to serious health conditions and even death.

The following are some of the main signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion that you should look for in a Great Dane dog should you suspect a problem:

• Constant, heavy panting
• Rapid pulse
• Glazed eyes
• Unsteady gait
• Purple or dark red tongue
• Vomiting

If your Great Dane dog is overheated you need to bring the temperature of his body down immediately. You can do this by:

• Putting your Dane in the shade and applying cool, not cold, water all over his body. This will help to gradually lower the temperature without sending your dog’s body into shock.
• Put cold towels or ice packs to your Dane’s neck, chest and head ONLY.
• Allow your pet to drink cool water in small amounts, or give him ice cubes to lick.
• As soon as you can, take your Dane to the Vet to be checked out. This trip to the Vet’s could save his life incase he has a serious heat exhaustion condition.
• You should never risk the well being of your Great Dane dog by taking him with you for a car trip on a hot day. Furthermore, if you discover a car that has left their dog unattended on a hot day, call your local animal control or the police so the dog can receive the help he needs.

In addition, other then hot days, other reasons why you shouldn’t leave your Great Dane dog in a car unattended is you don’t want to risk him being stolen.