Summer days bring sun, fun, and HEAT! Let’s keep all our family and friends safe and cool this summer- including our furry companions and wild neighbors!

  • Don’t leave your pet in a hot vehicle- On a warm day, temperatures inside a vehicle can rise rapidly to dangerous levels. On an 85-degree day, for example, the temperature inside a car with the windows opened slightly can reach 102 degrees within 10 minutes. After 30 minutes, the temperature will reach 120 degrees. Your pet may suffer irreversible organ damage or die. Leave your pets at home- it is safer for them.
  • Keep all unscreened windows or doors closed- Keep areas safe so that pets do not fall out or escape and become lost
  • Avoid hot walking surfaces- Asphalt gets very hot and can burn your pet’s paws, so walk your dog on the grass if possible, and at times of day when the sun is not direct. Always carry water with you to keep your dog from dehydrating.
  • Brush pets more often than usual- Help to remove hair and fur as they shed. Removing this hair helps to keep them cooler, and also prevents hairballs.  You can trim long hair, but do not entirely shave your pet. 
  • Supervise pets around water/pools- Don’t let them drink from pools or lakes/oceans. Rinse dogs off if they swim in a pool so they don’t consume chlorine when they groom. Supervise swimming animals to ensure safety. Make sure they wear a flotation device when on boats.
  • Limit exercise on hot days- Adjust intensity and duration of exercise. On very hot days, limit exercise to early morning or evening hours, and be especially careful with pets with white fur areas which are more susceptible to sunburns and skin cancer, and flat faced animals who typically have difficulty breathing. 
  • Watch for heatstroke signs- Animals can suffer heat stroke in warmer weather. Dogs with short noses or snouts, like the boxer or bulldog, are especially prone to heat stroke, along with overweight pets, those with extremely thick fur coat or any pet with upper respiratory problems such as laryngeal paralysis or collapsing trachea. Some of the signs of heat stroke in your pet are heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, excessive thirst, lethargy, fever, dizziness, lack of coordination, profuse salivation, vomiting, a deep red or purple tongue, seizure and unconsciousness.
  • If your pet is overheating- Move your pet into the shade or an air-conditioned area. Apply ice packs or cold towels to their head, neck and chest or run cool (not cold) water over them. Let them drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes. Take them directly to a veterinarian.
  • Provide ample shade and cool water for pets, livestock, and wildlife– Any time your pet is outside, make sure they have protection from heat and sun and plenty of fresh, cold water. In heat waves, add ice to water when possible. Tree shade and tarps are ideal because they don’t obstruct air flow. A doghouse does not provide relief from heat- it makes it worse.  Livestock and horses need ample shade, air flow and plenty of water.  Place water out in shady spots for your local wildlife friends.
  • Have a Grab and Go pack if you need to get to a cooling location- If your home or apartment gets too hot and you need to leave, do you have your pet’s supplies ready to go quickly and easily? Have a go bag ready with their food, medications, clean up supplies, bowls, proof of vaccines, etc…

See more heatstroke information from the American Animal Hospital Association.