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Every summer, veterinary emergency rooms across the country see a sharp increase in pets treated for heat-related illness.
Many of those cases are preventable. Yet year after year, pet owners underestimate how high temperatures can turn dangerous for both dogs and cats.
In this guide, we’ll walk through the early warning signs of overheating and explain how to keep pets cool in the summer.
Common Signs Your Pet is Overheating
Signs of Overheating in Dogs
The first sign most owners notice is heavy panting. Dogs pant because they can’t sweat through their skin the way humans do.
So, evaporation from the tongue and respiratory tract is their primary cooling mechanism for dogs.
Normal panting after a walk is expected. But if the panting becomes rapid, labored, or sounds harsher than usual, your dog’s body is struggling to dump heat fast enough.
Excessive drooling often follows. As a dog’s temperature goes higher, saliva production increases in an attempt to boost evaporative cooling.
You should always watch out for thick, ropy drool that’s looks a step beyond normal on your dog.
Bright red or dark purple gums signal that blood vessels are dilating to push heat toward the skin surface. If the gums shift to pale or blue-gray, then this can suggest the circulation is failing.
Other red flags include vomiting, diarrhea, unsteadiness on the feet, glazed eyes, and sudden collapse. Any combination of these symptoms demands immediate action.
Signs of Overheating in Cats
Cats share some of the same symptoms, such as lethargy, drooling, and vomiting, but they express discomfort differently.
A cat that’s too hot will often withdraw to a hidden spot rather than seek attention. You might find them pressed flat against a tile floor or tucked behind a toilet where it’s cooler.
However, open-mouth breathing in a cat is always an emergency. Dogs pant routinely, but cats do not.
If your cat is breathing with their mouth open and panting, then this could mean their internal temperature has already reached a dangerous level.
Why Summer Can Be Dangerous for Pets
As we have mentioned earlier, dogs and cats don’t regulate body temperature the way humans do. We have sweat glands spread across our entire body.
Dogs cool through panting and their paw pads. Cats groom themselves more frequently in hot weather, so they rely on saliva evaporation to lower their temperature.
Pet fur can also make the situation more complex. While a coat can insulate against both cold and heat, it also traps warm air close to the body in extreme conditions.
Brachycephalic breeds, such as Bulldogs, Pugs, Boston Terriers, Persian cats, and Himalayans face compounded risk because their shortened airways make panting far less efficient.
Overweight pets, senior animals, puppies, and kittens are also at higher risk due to reduced thermoregulation capacity.
For proper dog safety in hot weather, you also need to watch what your canine friend is stepping on.
Asphalt and concrete absorb solar radiation and can reach temperatures well above 140°F (60°C) on a sunny day.
If you want to test it out, we recommend placing the back of your hand on the pavement and count to seven. If you can’t keep it there for seven seconds, it’s too hot for paw pads.
Temperatures inside a vehicle parked in direct sun can soar 20°F higher than the outside temperature in just 10 minutes, even if you leave the windows open.
After 15 minutes, your pet’s brain can be irreparably damaged or they can suffer a sudden heatstroke. Knowing how to protect pets in hot weather also means knowing what never to do
There is no safe time period to leave a pet alone in a parked car when the weather is warm. None whatsoever.
How to Cool Down a Dog in Summer Fast
If your dog is already exhibiting signs of heatstroke, you need to take immediate action. Get then to shade or an air-conditioned area immediately.
Give tiny amounts of cool water to drink, but don’t force your dog to drink. Dampen towels with cool water and apply them to his neck, armpits, and groin.
Blood vessels pool close to the surface there, so your dog’s body will transfer heat out of his body fastest there. Blast the wet towels with a fan, if you have one.
Do NOT immerse your dog in ice water or apply ice packs to their body. Ice-cold temperatures will cause blood vessels near the surface of the skin to constrict (vasoconstriction).
Forcing water into your dog’s mouth is also not recommended. Also, DO NOT walk away while your dog is cooling.
Head to your nearest veterinary clinic if the dog’s rectal temperature is over 104°F or the symptoms persist after 10 minutes of active cooling.
Normal dog body temperature ranges from 100°F – 102.5°F. Above 104°F is considered an emergency.
How to Keep Dogs Cool in Hot Weather
The following are some of the most practical dog health tips for summer that can prevent your dog from overheating.
One of the best summer dog care tips that will help prevent most heat emergencies is changing your walk time.
Take walks before 8am or after 6pm. From 10 am – 4 pm is the worst time because the asphalt is the hottest, the sun’s UV rays are strongest, and humidity makes the heat worse.
Always carry water on walks. The MalsiPree Dog Water Bottle has a built-in trough that folds out with one hand, so you can offer water without breaking stride.
At home, you should place a fresh bowl of cool water in every room your dog frequents, and refill at least twice a day
Cooling Strategies That Actually Work
Frozen treats wok in two ways, because they cool your dog down and keep them mentally occupied.
A Kong stuffed with peanut butter and frozen overnight, ice cubes dropped into low-sodium broth, or homemade watermelon dog treats all work well.
For more ideas, we’ve put together a whole collection of frozen dog treats for summer that you can batch-prepare and keep stocked in your freezer.
Cooling vests are another solid option for dogs that stay active in the heat. They’re especially useful for hiking, outdoor training, or breeds that run hot.
You soak them in water, wring them out, and the vest uses evaporative cooling to draw heat away from the dog’s torso over several hours.
Coat Care and Brushing in Summer
This is where a lot of dog owners get it wrong. Shaving a double-coated breed may seem like it would help. It doesn’t.
The undercoat actually insulates against heat and protects against sunburn. Shaving disrupts that system, exposes the skin to UV damage, and the coat often grows back patchy.
What does help is regular brushing to remove loose undercoat. That trapped dead fur is what makes a dog feel hotter.
Once you remove it, you are going to restore the airflow the coat is designed for. Keeping dogs cool in summer is also about prepping the coat.
Of all the summer heat dog care tips you need to know, proper coat maintenance is one of the most overlooked.
How to Keep Cats Cool in Summer
Cats are the overlooked half of the pet safety in summer conversation. Most heat safety guides lean heavily toward dogs, and cats get a passing mention at best.
We think that’s a problem, because cats equally face the same physiological risks but show them differently.
Outdoor Cats
The strategy on how to keep outside cats cool in summer comes down to three things: shade, water, and an escape route indoors.
Your number one goal should be to set up a covered shelter in the yard. A shaded crate, a tarp draped over a low table, even a cardboard box tucked under a tree can all work.
We recommend you position it away from the afternoon sun so that the cat is shielded from the peak temperatures.
Another strategy is to place multiple water stations around the yard, and all of them should be in shaded spots.
Make sure you refresh the water at least twice daily. Cats are fussy drinkers, they’ll walk right past a bowl of warm, stale water and dehydrate rather than drink it.
Lay a damp towel in their favorite resting area for passive cooling. And always give outdoor cats the option to come inside when they want to.
Indoor Cats
For indoor cats, your number one strategy is to close curtains and blinds on sun-facing windows during peak hours.
A south or west – facing room that gets direct afternoon light can climb 10 – 15°F above the rest of the house.
Open windows on opposite sides of the home to create cross-ventilation, and point a fan toward your cat’s preferred napping spot.
You can also wrap an ice pack in a towel and place it near their bed. Plenty of cats will gravitate toward the cool spot without any prompting.
Hydration Tips for Cats
Cat hydration in hot weather takes a different approach than dogs. Many cats strongly prefer running water to a still bowl.
This is an instinctive preference rooted in the wild, where moving water was always considered safer to drink.
A pet water fountain encourages consistent drinking throughout the day, and some cats will double their intake once you switch from a bowl to a fountain.
Feel free to throw in a few ice cubes in the water fountain to make the water a little cooler for your kitty.
Wet food is another underrated hydration tool. Canned or pouch food is roughly 70- 80% moisture, while dry kibble sits around 10%.
When you add one wet meal per day during summer, you can meaningfully improve your cat’s water intake without any extra effort on their part.
We’ve also developed a guide to 10 homemade wet cat food recipes that use ingredients you can easily get at an affordable price.
For mid-day snacking, check out our guide about DIY frozen cat treats to keep cats cool and mentally engaged.
In summary, cat heat safety advice comes down to being vigilant. Cats are stoic. They hide pain, they hide discomfort, and they won’t pant or whimper until things have gone too far.
Always watch for subtle changes, which may include frequent hiding, refusing food, and reduced grooming.
The proven strategies on how to keep cats cool in the heat requires the same level of planning and attention you’d give a dog. They just don’t make it as obvious when something’s wrong.
How to Keep Pets Cool at Home
Knowing how to keep pets cool in heat starts with what you do inside the house, these indoor strategies work for both dogs and cats during a heat wave.
Install a shade
Close blinds and curtains on sun-facing windows between 10 AM and 4 PM. This alone can drop room temperature by several degrees.
If you don’t have air conditioning, create cross-ventilation by opening windows on opposite walls and positioning a fan to push hot air out.
Some pet owners place a shallow pan of ice in front of a box fan to create a makeshift evaporative cooler and that can work too.
Pet Cooling Mats
Another strategy is to invest in pet cooling mats that can last your furry friend across multiple summers.
If your are a DIYer, feel free to check our article on 7 DIY dog cooling mat ideas that actually keep your dog cool.
Gel-based, pressure-activated mats stay several degrees below room temperature without needing refrigeration or electricity.
Your pet’s body weight activates the cooling gel when they lie down. They work on hard floors, inside crates, or on top of existing beds.
We have covered the different types in detail in our guide to keeping your dog cool in the summer.
Frozen Treats
For dogs, spread natural peanut butter across a lick mat and freeze it overnight to make a simple enrichment.
It’ll take them 20 to 30 minutes to work through, and the cold surface helps lower their mouth and tongue temperature.
For cats, freeze tuna water in ice cube trays and offer a cube during the hottest hours. The ideal indoor temperature for pets sits between 68°F and 78°F.
How to Keep Dogs Cool Outside
A backyard can either be a safe, cool retreat or a heat trap, and the right outdoor dog cooling ideas can work. The difference comes down to how you set it up.
Dog Pools and Water Play
A shallow pool is one of the fastest ways to bring a dog’s temperature down outdoors. Even a basic hard-shell kiddie pool with a few inches of cool water does the job.
Dogs lose heat through their belly and paw pads, and standing or lying in water hits both areas at once.
If you want something more permanent, we’ve compiled a list of DIY dog pool ideas ranging from quick weekend builds to stone-walled setups.
However, if you’d rather buy one ready-made, our roundup of the best dog pools for summer covers foldable, splash pad, and hard-shell options for every budget.
Setting Up Shade in the Yard
Shade is a good old strategy that always works. Use shade sails, pop-up canopies, or natural tree cover to block direct sun.
If your dog is tethered, which we generally don’t recommend during extreme heat, make sure the tether reaches a shaded zone at every point in the sun’s arc throughout the day.
Backyard Cooling Setups
A well-planned outdoor space doesn’t just keep dogs cool outside, but it also gives them a way to enjoy the season.
Sprinklers and gentle hose play provide both cooling and entertainment. Dogs love chasing a stream of water, and the evaporation off their coat lowers their skin temperature as they play.
For layout ideas and functional designs, our article on backyard dog run ideas is a good place to start.
Summer Pet Safety Mistakes Most Owners Make
To sum up our Hot weather pet care advice, here are some of the most common mistakes pet owners make in the summer when trying to keep their pets cool:
- Shaving a double-coated breed thinking it’ll cool them down
- Leaving water bowls in direct sunlight
- Exercising pets at midday because it doesn’t feel that hot
- Having no backup plan for air conditioning failure
- Leaving pets in the car for just a minute.
- Ignoring cats in summer heat planning
- Reaching for ice water during a heatstroke emergency
Summer Pet Safety Checklist
Keep the following summer pet safety checklist at the palm of your hand and run through it weekly once temperatures start climbing:
- Cool water available in multiple locations indoors and outdoors.
- Walks and exercise shifted to early morning or evening.
- Cooling mat placed in your pet’s preferred resting area.
- Outdoor shade confirmed
- Never leave your pet in a parked vehicle
- Emergency kit stocked
- Your pet is well-groomed
- Know the warning signs by heart.
- Power outage plan ready
Conclusion
How to keep pets cool in the summer narrows down to timed walks, consistent hydration, proper grooming, and a cooling setup at home, which requires consistency.
Both dogs and cats need active heat management, and these summer safety tips for pets apply. Make sure you know the early signs and have a response plan to prevent heatstroke.
But remember, summer doesn’t have to be boring. Read our articles on fun summer activities for dogs and homemade dog ice cream recipes to see what we mean.
Laura is the founder of Furs'n'Paws. She is a also a pet writer and expert with more than 20 years of experience of working with dogs and cats. She developed a very strong love for animals at a young age. Her passion led her to establish a thriving pet sitting and dog walking business in Dubai. As an expert in pet training, behavior, and nutrition, Laura is committed to helping pet owners and pet lovers by offering high-quality information on a wide range of topics.
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