As triple-digits approach, Tulsa veterinarians are reminding dog owners it's never safe to leave dogs in hot cars even with the windows rolled down and the air conditioning on.
“Animals are as sensitive as we are, if not more so to heat," said Dr. Katie Seiber, a veterinarian for Alta Vista Animal Hospital, "[At] 104, 105, we worry that they’re approaching heat stroke.”
The temperature inside a car can quickly rise to more than 120 degrees in a matter of minutes if the weather is in the 90s outside.
Dr. Seiber says leaving a dog inside a car in that temperature can be deadly.
She said symptoms can range from heavy panting to the end of the tongue getting round and dilated.
"It's [heat stroke] something we see just about every summer unfortunately," said Dr. Seiber.
In Oklahoma, there are no laws protecting dogs from hot cars, unlike children.
A spokesperson from the Tulsa Police Department says if you break into a vehicle to try and rescue a dog in distress, you can be arrested and charged with "malicious mischief."
If you see a dog in a hot car, the Humane Society has someadvice.
