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How to Keep Pets Safe in Hot Weather

Water, shade, cooler-hour exercise and a cool indoor refuge help protect pets in hot weather. Know the warning signs of heat illness and how to respond.
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Keep pets safe in hot weather by providing fresh water, shade and access to a cool indoor space; avoiding strenuous activity during the hottest hours; and never leaving an animal in a parked car. If your pet shows signs of heat illness, move them out of the heat, begin cooling with water and contact a veterinarian immediately.

Prevent overheating before it starts

Make cool water and shelter easy to reach

Provide plentiful fresh water and shade outdoors, and let pets move into a cool indoor area when it is too hot outside. Different temperature zones in the home can give animals options for finding a comfortable place. For pets at higher risk, prioritize time in an air-conditioned room. The AVMA warm-weather safety guidance and ASPCA hot-weather tips recommend water, shade and ways to stay cool.

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Plan exercise around the heat

Walk or exercise dogs during cooler hours, keep outings short when conditions are very hot, take breaks and bring water for both the person and dog. Avoid hot asphalt, which can burn paw pads. There is no single safe outdoor temperature established by the guidance cited here; consider the conditions and your individual pet rather than relying on one cutoff. A portable water bottle can be a convenient way to carry water, but it does not replace shade, cooler-hour activity or a cool indoor refuge.

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Keep pets out of parked cars

Never leave an animal unattended in a parked vehicle, even with the windows partly open or the car in shade. Vehicles can heat quickly to dangerous levels, according to the AVMA, ASPCA and the ASPCA’s 2021 warm-weather alert.

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Use grooming and outdoor products carefully

Ask your veterinarian whether your pet needs a warm-weather haircut or another form of protection. The ASPCA advises trimming longer hair if needed but not shaving dogs: coat layers help protect against overheating and sunburn. Brush cats more frequently in hot weather. Use sunscreen or insect repellent only when its label specifically says it is for animals.

Supervise swimming and keep seasonal hazards away

At pools, lakes and beaches, supervise pets, provide fresh drinking water and introduce swimming gradually. Use flotation devices for pets on boats; rinse dogs after swimming to remove chlorine or salt. Keep lawn chemicals, unsafe plants, fireworks, alcohol and potentially toxic foods out of reach, and follow product labels.

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Which pets need extra protection?

Flat-faced animals—including Pugs and Persian cats—are more susceptible to heatstroke, as are elderly or overweight pets and animals with heart or lung disease. The ASPCA advises keeping these higher-risk pets cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible. Ask your veterinarian about an appropriate exercise plan, travel and other precautions for your animal.

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Cats may show subtler signs of heat stress than dogs. Panting in a cat is concerning: NYC Health’s 2026 veterinary alert notes that a panting cat may be struggling to breathe.

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Recognize possible heat illness

Heat illness can worsen quickly. Warning signs described by veterinary and animal-welfare sources include:

  • Excessive panting, noisy breathing or difficulty breathing
  • Faster-than-usual heart or breathing rate, drooling, or unusually red or otherwise abnormal gums or tongue
  • Restlessness, unsteadiness, weakness, lethargy or disorientation
  • Vomiting or diarrhea, especially if there is blood
  • Seizures or collapse

Signs can be less obvious in cats, so take panting seriously. The ASPCA’s 2021 alert lists a body temperature over 104°F among possible signs of severe heatstroke, alongside seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomiting. That is a warning reported in that guidance, not a general safe-weather cutoff or a threshold below which a pet is safe.

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What to do if you suspect heatstroke

  1. Stop activity and move the pet out of the heat. Get them into shade or a cool environment.
  2. Start cooling with water. The 2026 RECOVER first-aid guideline for dogs and cats recommends cool running water over the trunk, especially the thin-haired underside. NYC Health also advises spraying cool—not cold—water on the body and warns against covering a pet with wet towels, which can trap heat.
  3. Contact a veterinarian and go for emergency care. RECOVER recommends transport to a veterinary facility immediately following active cooling. Follow veterinary direction, and do not attempt first aid if doing so would put you at high risk.

For dogs specifically, the RSPCA heatstroke guidance says to apply water cooler than the dog’s temperature to the body, focusing on the neck, stomach and thighs, and create airflow. It advises travelling to a vet in a cooled, ventilated vehicle and calling ahead. RSPCA says cold water rarely causes shock in overheated dogs and describes dousing or immersion as vital to recovery; that advice is specific to its dog guidance, not a universal instruction for every species or situation. The RECOVER recommendation for active cooling is strong but based on very low-quality evidence; its specific water-application and endpoint suggestions are weak recommendations based on expert opinion.

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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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