Keeping Dogs Safe During Heatwaves – Essential Summer Advice for Dog Owners

Spring & summer are wonderful times to enjoy the outdoors with our dogs, but periods of hot weather can quickly become dangerous for dogs. Unlike humans, dogs cannot cool themselves efficiently and can suffer from heatstroke within minutes. Every year, veterinary practices across the UK treat dogs for preventable heat-related illnesses.

It doesn’t need to be 30 degrees outside to cause problems!

At Highworth Pet Care, your dog's welfare is always our highest priority. Whether your dog is staying with us for licensed home boarding or enjoying one of our pet care services, we carefully adapt our routines during periods of hot weather to keep every dog safe and comfortable.

Heatstroke is a life-threatening emergency that occurs when a dog's body temperature rises faster than it can cool itself. It can affect any dog, even on what many people would consider a "pleasant" summer day.

Dogs most at risk include:

Flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds
Puppies and elderly dogs
Overweight dogs
Dogs with heart or respiratory conditions
Thick-coated breeds
Dogs exercising in warm weather

Early signs include:

Excessive panting
Drooling
Bright red gums or tongue
Lethargy or reluctance to walk
Vomiting or diarrhoea
Confusion or wobbliness

As heatstroke progresses, dogs may collapse, suffer seizures or lose consciousness. This is a veterinary emergency. If this happens to your dog, you MUST start active cooling for your dog immediately.

The latest Veterinary advice is Cool 1st, transport to Vet 2nd
Remove your dog from the heat
Use a fan if you have one
Get your dog wet NOW, and if they are otherwise healthy, immerse them in cold but not icy water
Contact your Vet as soon as possible for advice on transporting your dog to the Vet
Use air conditioning in the car if you have it, or provide airflow using windows on your way

One of the best ways to protect your dog is to change your daily routine.

Walk at Cooler Times

Walk early in the morning or later in the evening when temperatures are lower. If in doubt, remember:

If it's too hot for you in a coat, it's probably too hot for your dog to exercise.

Choose a location which offers shade, such as woodland.

On particularly hot days, it is perfectly acceptable to skip the walk altogether and offer alternative indoor enrichment activities.

No dog has ever died from missing a walk, but sadly, many have died from walking in the heat.

Replace Exercise with Enrichment Activities

Mental stimulation can be just as rewarding as physical exercise.

Ideas include:
Frozen enrichment toys
Stuffed food puzzles
Scent games around the home or garden
Short training sessions
Snuffle mats
Frozen fruit and vegetables suitable for dogs (where appropriate)

These activities help keep dogs occupied while avoiding dangerous overheating.

Provide Plenty of Fresh Water

Always ensure clean drinking water is available. Consider placing several water bowls around your home and refreshing them every couple of hours. It is perfectly safe to give your dog cool water or add ice cubes to their water, unless your dog has heatstroke, in which case it is contraindicated.

Create Cool Resting Areas

Keep curtains closed during the hottest parts of the day, use fans or air conditioning where appropriate and provide cool resting places such as cooling mats or shaded areas.

Many dogs also enjoy lying on tiled floors where available.

Never Leave Dogs in Cars

Even with windows open, the temperature inside a vehicle can rise to dangerous levels within a few minutes.

If your dog cannot accompany you into a building, leave them safely at home.

Many dogs love visiting the coast, but beaches can present several hidden dangers during hot weather.

Avoid the Hottest Part of the Day

Plan beach visits early in the morning or in the evening, when both the air and the sand are cooler.

Beware of Hot Sand

Sand becomes extremely hot in direct sunlight and can burn sensitive paw pads.

If the sand feels too hot for your bare feet, it is too hot for your dog's paws.

Shock from entering the water

Even in the summer, water temperatures in the UK can be very cold and induce shock. It is very easy for a dog to panic, take on water and flounder.

If your dog is swimming in lakes, bear in mind that there may be debris & weeds beneath the surface that you cannot see, which may cause entrapment and increase the risk of drowning.

Always Provide Shade

Take a beach shelter or umbrella so your dog has somewhere cool to rest.

Regular breaks away from the sun are essential.

Bring Plenty of Fresh Water

Never allow your dog to drink seawater.

Drinking seawater can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration and salt toxicity.

Make sure you have water for cooling as well as for drinking.

Watch Out for Water Intoxication

Some dogs repeatedly retrieve balls or bite at waves, accidentally swallowing large amounts of water.

This can lead to water intoxication, a rare but serious condition that causes dangerous changes to blood sodium levels.

Signs include:

Vomiting
Confusion
Weakness
Bloating
Collapse
Seizures

Take regular breaks from swimming and avoid excessive repetitive retrieving. Tennis balls retain a lot of water and should be avoided.

Be Aware of Secondary Drowning

Occasionally, dogs may inhale water into their lungs while swimming.

Although uncommon, breathing difficulties may develop several hours afterwards.

Seek veterinary advice immediately if your dog develops:

Persistent coughing
Rapid or difficult breathing
Lethargy
Collapse after swimming

Avoid Constant Ball Throwing in Water

Repeatedly chasing floating toys can encourage dogs to gulp water while retrieving.

Mix swimming with sniffing, exploring and rest periods instead.

At Highworth Pet Care, every dog's routine is adapted according to weather conditions.

During hot weather we:

Walk only very early when temperatures are safe.
Provide constant access to fresh drinking water. (For drinking & cooling)
Offer shaded gardens and cool indoor resting areas.
Replace walks with enrichment where necessary.
Closely monitor dogs for any signs of overheating.
Follow current veterinary guidance if any dog becomes unwell.

Your dog's comfort, welfare and safety always come first.

Summer should be enjoyable for both dogs and their owners, but warm weather requires sensible precautions. By adjusting routines, recognising the signs of heat-related illness and making informed choices about exercise and beach visits, we can all help keep our four-legged companions safe.

If you are planning a holiday or need trusted, experienced care for your dog this summer, Highworth Pet Care provides fully licensed home boarding where every dog is treated as one of the family.

Because no walk is ever worth risking a dog's life!

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