It is not safe to leave pets unattended in a car during cold weather. Even if the weather is cold, the potential for harm like hypothermia is still substantial. A car can act like a greenhouse in the summer, becoming much hotter than the environment outside. Likewise, in winter, cars without heaters running become rolling refrigerators, conducting cold from the outside. Cars have little to no insulation against outside conditions. So while your vehicle may shelter your pet from the wind and elements, it does not protect from frigid or freezing temperatures. Left alone in a cold car for too long, pets can develop hypothermia, a dangerous condition that occurs when the core body temperature drops too low. For dogs, mild hypothermia begins to set in when their temperature drops below 99 degrees Fahrenheit. Frostbite can become an issue at extremely low temperatures. If left untreated, hypothermia can also result in cardiac and respiratory failure, brain damage, coma, and even death.
If you must leave your pet alone in a parked car, keep your stop as short as possible, and dress your pet for the wintry occasion with a dog winter coat or dog sweater. Ideally, if you’ll be stopping somewhere your pet isn’t allowed, leave your pet at home, or bring a human passenger who can stay with them and keep the heater running.
Mon Valley Paws 