Every summer, stories circulate about pets left in hot cars. Travel adds to the risk because animals are confined, often stressed, and sometimes in vehicles that stop and start. Here's what every pet owner should know before a summer trip.
How fast a vehicle heats up
On a warm day, the inside of a parked car can climb roughly 10°C (about 20°F) in the first ten minutes, and keep climbing. Cracking the windows makes little difference. The rule is simple: an animal should never be left in a parked vehicle without the engine and air conditioning running and someone present.
Species that struggle most
- Dogs cool themselves mainly by panting. Snub-nosed breeds, overweight dogs, seniors and dogs with thick coats are at highest risk.
- Cats rarely pant. If a cat is panting, treat it as a warning sign.
- Rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas are very heat-sensitive. Chinchillas in particular do poorly once temperatures get into the mid-20s °C.
- Birds hold their wings away from their bodies and breathe with open beaks when too hot.
- Reptiles need warmth, but overheating in a closed carrier can happen quickly. They can't escape a hot spot inside a small tub.
Warning signs of heat stress
Heavy panting, drooling, bright red gums, weakness, stumbling, vomiting, and in small mammals, lying stretched out and limp. Heat stroke is an emergency. Move the animal somewhere cool, offer water, cool (not ice-cold) the body with damp towels, and get to a vet immediately.
How we plan summer trips
- Pre-cooling the vehicle before any animal is loaded.
- Temperature monitoring in the animal area, not just the driver's seat.
- Never leaving animals unattended. Someone always stays with the vehicle, and the climate control stays on.
- Travel timing. On very hot days we favour early starts and shade for rest stops.
- Water at every stop, plus frozen water bottles wrapped in towels for small mammals when appropriate.
- Shaded potty breaks on grass, not hot asphalt, which can burn paw pads.
What you can do before pickup
- Trim or brush out heavy undercoats (don't shave double-coated breeds without asking your groomer).
- Make sure your pet is well hydrated the day before.
- Tell your transporter about any breathing issues, heart conditions or past heat episodes.
- For small animals and reptiles, discuss carrier setup and temperature targets in advance.
Should summer trips be avoided?
Not necessarily. A properly equipped climate-controlled vehicle is often safer than air cargo in summer, when many airlines put heat embargoes on live animals. What matters is planning. If you have a summer move coming up, request a quote and tell us about your pet so we can plan around the weather.
Planning a move with your pet?
4Paws Movers offers dedicated, climate-controlled ground transport across Ontario and cross-border into the U.S., plus airport cargo drop-off. Every fee is published.