If you take your pet for a ride in the car, never, ever leave your pet locked in the car while you make a quick stop. The temperature in a closed or even mostly closed car can rise by as much as a two degrees per minute. This means that your car can take on conditions resembling an oven in less than 30 minutes. If you must leave you pet in the car, park it in a shady spot and leave all of your windows as low as possible. Better yet, leave your pet at home if you need to step out to shop or run errands.
Heat stroke is a deadly condition that kills hundreds of pets in Florida every summer.
The most common cause of heat stroke is a dog being left chained up in the back yard without access to fresh, cool water. You should leave a sufficient quantity of water in a sturdy container that is unlikely to tip. Be sure your pet also has access to shade and if she must be tethered with a leash, make sure it can't get tangled or wrapped around a tree. If you suspect your pet is suffering from heat exhaustion or stroke, immediately rinse him down with cool water. Ice cubes in a bag or wet towel should be applied to the head and ears where heat can be readily displaced.