Cool thoughts, beating the heat and driving with your dog

It is hot.

Not an understatement. And Lexie the Schnauzer was feeling hot, too. She was panting out loud.

So, on a whim, I decided to take her for a short and hopefully cool car ride.

Short, because the Iran-US war is still at a standstill, and the need to save gas is still at the top of my list.

We didn’t have a plan for the drive. All I knew was that perhaps a little off-roading would be a good idea because there are trees — we could leave the concrete jungle that Metro Manila has become, even if only for a bit.

After getting Lexie properly dressed for the trip, off we drove on the...

Here are my 10 tips:

Did you mean: 10 cool thoughts while driving in the El Niño heat with your dog?

Driving with your dog during a severe El Niño heat wave requires keeping both of you cool, safe and hydrated.

Here are 10 thoughtful and practical reflections for a hot-weather drive:

AC is non-negotiable: If the cabin feels warm to you, it feels twice as suffocating to a dog wrapped in a fur coat who can only cool down by panting.

Pavement is a frying pan: Never let your dog step out onto asphalt or concrete without testing it first — if it is too hot for the back of your hand after seven seconds, it will burn their paw pads.

Zero minutes in a parked car: Even with the windows cracked or the car parked in the shade, temperatures inside can surge to deadly levels in under six minutes. Never leave your pet behind, not even “for a quick second.”

Hydration pit stops: Pack a dedicated jug of fresh, cold water and a portable bowl so your dog can drink regularly during traffic jams or rest stops.

Watch the flat-faced breeds: Pugs, Bulldogs and other brachycephalic dogs have a much harder time moving air through their airways and are at extreme risk of rapid heatstroke.

Sunbeams through the glass: A sunny patch on the back seat acts like a greenhouse. Make sure your dog has a shaded spot away from direct window glare.

Panting is a warning sign: Heavy, frantic panting, bright red gums, thick drool or sluggishness mean you should pull over immediately into an air-conditioned area and cool your dog down with wet cloths on the belly and paws.

The breeze isn’t always cool: Sticking their head out the window is fun, but blast-furnace-hot air at 60 km/h dries out their eyes and airways rather than cooling them down.

Leather and metal burn: Check your seat belts, metal buckles and leather or vinyl seats before letting your dog lean or lie against them after sitting in the sun.

The golden rule of summer: When El Niño pushes heat indices past extreme danger levels, the coolest and kindest place for your dog is on cool tiles at home with a fan, not riding shotgun.