How to Keep Your Dog Safe in Hot Weather
Dogs cope with heat far less well than we do, and heatstroke can become life-threatening in minutes. The good news is that almost every hot-weather emergency is preventable. This guide covers how to recognise the warning signs, what to do if your dog overheats, and the simple habits — timing walks, testing the pavement, keeping cool at home — that keep summer safe and comfortable.
Why Dogs Overheat So Easily
Unlike us, dogs barely sweat. They have a few sweat glands in their paw pads, but they cool themselves mainly by panting — moving air over a wet tongue and airways to shed heat. It's an efficient system in mild weather, but it struggles fast when the air is hot and humid. Once a dog can't pant heat away quickly enough, their core temperature climbs, and that's when trouble starts.
Some dogs are far more at risk than others. Keep an especially close eye on:
- Flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds — Bulldogs, Pugs, French Bulldogs, Boxers and similar dogs have narrowed airways that make panting much less effective.
- Puppies and senior dogs — they regulate their temperature less efficiently.
- Overweight dogs — extra insulation traps heat and adds strain.
- Thick-coated and dark-coated breeds — coats built for cold climates hold heat in.
- Dogs with heart or breathing conditions — any pre-existing illness lowers their tolerance.
Recognise Heatstroke
Heatstroke develops along a spectrum, and catching it early gives your dog the best chance. Learn to recognise the progression.
Early warning signs:
- Heavy, frantic panting that doesn't settle
- Thick, ropey drooling
- Bright red gums and tongue
- Restlessness, pacing, or reluctance to settle
Emergency signs — act immediately:
- Staggering, wobbling, or weakness
- Vomiting or diarrhoea
- Glazed eyes or confusion
- Collapse, seizures, or loss of consciousness
Warning: Heatstroke is a life-threatening veterinary emergency. If you see any emergency signs, begin cooling your dog and contact your vet straight away — do not wait to see whether things improve on their own.
Emergency First Aid (Then Vet)
If you think your dog is overheating, start cooling them down while you arrange to get to a vet. The goal is to bring their temperature down gradually and safely:
- Move your dog out of the heat — into shade or a cool, well-ventilated room.
- Offer small amounts of cool (not ice-cold) water to drink. Don't force them.
- Pour or gently soak cool water over the body, focusing on the belly, armpits and groin where blood vessels run close to the surface.
- Keep air moving over the wet coat — open a window, use a fan, or find a breeze.
- Call your vet and head there immediately, even if your dog seems to recover.
Avoid ice or ice-cold water: it can cause the surface blood vessels to constrict and may slow cooling. Cool, not freezing, is the rule. And don't be reassured by a quick recovery — heatstroke can cause internal damage that isn't visible from the outside, so a vet check is essential.
Plan Cooler, Safer Walks
PupPlan's GPS walk tracking helps you keep routes short and time them for the cooler hours, so you can see exactly where you've been and how long you were out. On the hottest days, swap the walk for the app's indoor enrichment games — brain games that tire your dog out without the heat.
The Pavement Test
Tarmac and paving can get blisteringly hot in the sun — far hotter than the air temperature — and your dog walks on it barefoot. Hot surfaces can burn paw pads badly, leaving them red, blistered, or peeling.
Before you set off, do the seven-second test: press the back of your hand flat against the pavement and hold it there for seven seconds. If it's too hot for you to keep your hand there comfortably, it's too hot for your dog's paws. When in doubt, walk on grass and shaded ground, or wait until things cool down.
Walking in the Heat
On warm days, timing is everything. A few simple adjustments keep walks safe:
- Walk early or late. Early morning and late evening are far cooler than midday for both the air and the ground.
- Avoid the midday sun. The hours either side of noon are the most dangerous — skip them.
- Carry water. Bring a bottle and a collapsible bowl, and offer drinks regularly.
- Stick to shade and grass. Plan routes with tree cover and soft ground rather than open tarmac.
- Shorten or skip very hot days. A missed walk beats heatstroke every time.
If it's simply too hot to walk, don't feel guilty about staying in. Swap the walk for indoor enrichment — scent games, puzzle feeders, or a few minutes of training all tire a dog out mentally without raising their temperature.
Cooling and Comfort at Home
Keeping your dog comfortable indoors is just as important as managing walks. On hot days:
- Make sure there's always a cool, shaded spot to retreat to, out of direct sun.
- Keep the air moving with open windows, a fan, or ventilation.
- Offer a cooling mat or a damp towel to lie on.
- Set up a shallow paddling pool in the garden for dogs that enjoy water.
- Freeze enrichment — a stuffed, frozen toy or some treats in ice makes a refreshing, long-lasting activity.
- Never let the water bowl run empty, and consider a second bowl in another room.
Tip: Frozen enrichment does double duty on hot days — it keeps your dog cool and occupied, which curbs the restless boredom that builds up when walks are cut short.
Never Leave a Dog in a Car
This is the single most important rule of summer: never leave your dog alone in a parked car. Even on a mild, pleasantly warm day, a car heats up like an oven within minutes — and cracking the windows makes almost no difference.
"Just nipping in for a minute" is how tragedies happen. Temperatures inside a parked car can become fatal astonishingly fast, and there is no safe length of time. If you can't take your dog with you, leave them at home where it's cool. If you ever see a dog in distress in a hot car, treat it as an emergency and call for help immediately.
Common Mistakes
- Walking at the usual time regardless of the heat. Your normal schedule may fall right in the danger window — move walks to the cooler ends of the day.
- Skipping the pavement test. The air can feel fine while the tarmac is hot enough to burn paws. Always check the ground.
- Using ice-cold water or ice. Cool water is right; freezing water can slow cooling. Aim for cool, steady, and gradual.
- Assuming a quick recovery means all is well. Heatstroke can cause hidden internal damage — always see a vet, even if your dog perks up.
- Leaving a dog in the car "just for a minute." There is no safe length of time. Don't risk it, ever.
- Forgetting that at-risk dogs need extra care. Flat-faced, senior, overweight and thick-coated dogs overheat faster — adjust accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the first signs of heatstroke in dogs?
The earliest signs are excessive, heavy panting, thick drooling, bright red gums and tongue, and restlessness or pacing. Stop all activity, move your dog somewhere cool, and watch closely — if it progresses to staggering, vomiting, or collapse, treat it as an emergency and contact your vet immediately.
How do I cool down an overheating dog?
Move them into shade, offer small amounts of cool (not ice-cold) water, and pour or soak cool water over the body — especially the belly and armpits — with air moving over the wet coat. Then call your vet and go straight in, even if your dog seems to recover, because the damage isn't always visible.
Is it too hot to walk my dog?
Do the pavement test — if the tarmac is too hot for the back of your hand for seven seconds, it's too hot for your dog's paws. Walk early or late, stick to grass and shade, carry water, and on very hot days skip the walk and use indoor enrichment instead.
How hot is too hot for a dog in a car?
Never leave a dog in a parked car in warm weather, even briefly and even with the windows cracked. Cars heat up within minutes and can become fatal very quickly — there is no safe length of time.