Staying Safe in the Warm Weather

Apr 2, 2025
5 min read

Updated: May 19

When the summer months are upon us, we always need to be mindful that our furry friends are safe. All dogs can suffer from the heat, but especially brachycephalic breeds (flat faces!) as they cannot self-regulate their body temperature as well as other breeds due to their facial structure and all too common breathing issues.

Heatstroke: The dangers

Heatstroke is one of the biggest dangers to dogs in summer. It can progress very quickly, and even if treated swiftly, can be fatal. It most typically occurs in three different situations:

• Your dog does too much exercise in warm weather – An important note here: more than 70% of heat-related illness in dogs is triggered by exercising in warm weather. This is exacerbated by the use of balls/ball throwers which excite and encourage dogs to exercise way beyond what is reasonable in warm weather. Carers must think for their dog and restrict exercise to on-leash or gentle walks in the warmer weather. Your dog will comply if he thinks you want him to run and chase a ball regardless of the consequences, so this must be avoided at all costs. For brachycephalic breeds, heatstroke can occur from as little as sitting in the sun too long.

• Your dog can’t cope with heat for a medical reason – Some dogs overheat more than others, particularly overweight dogs, heavy-coated breeds, and short-nosed ‘brachycephalic’ breeds (that’s Pugs, Boston Terriers, French Bulldogs, & Boxers among others).

• Your dog is trapped in a hot environment such as a hot car, conservatory, or even just a warm, sunny room.

Heatstroke can kill or cause irreparable damage to internal organs, so it’s vital that you take it seriously and do all you can to prevent it.

What is heatstroke?

Heatstroke is a form of nonpyrogenic hyperthermia, which essentially means a high temperature that is not caused by a fever. It occurs when dogs are no longer able to self-regulate and keep their own temperature at a comfortable or safe level.

Signs of heatstroke

Faster, heavier panting
Barking, whining, or signs of agitation
Excessive thirst
Excessive drooling
Increased pulse and heartbeat
Dark-coloured (red or purple) gums or tongue
Glassy eyes
Staggering, weakness, collapse, or seizures
Unconsciousness

If you see any of these symptoms, be it your dog or someone else’s, begin cooling the dog immediately with cool water. Get the dog to the nearest vet as quickly as you can, ensuring that you have opened all windows or have the air conditioning on while still cooling the dog. You can place wet towels under the dog, fully soak the dog avoiding the face; if this is not possible, wet the paws, the back of the neck, inner thighs, underbelly, and armpits.

Rapid cooling saves lives, so act quickly

If by a water source, use this to fully wet the dog while being mindful not to submerge the dog's head, especially brachycephalic breeds, as these are prone to aspiration pneumonia. Also, most cannot swim, so always support the dog fully.

Do not use iced water; I’d leave that to the professionals so the dog is in a controlled environment where the temperature can be monitored closely.

Water evaporation & air circulation is one of the most effective ways of reducing the body temperature below that critical level, so act quickly to save lives, but always get to the closest vet for professional treatment.

Offer small amounts of cool water, but don’t let them drink too much too quickly, as this could cause vomiting and make the condition worse. Giving OxyPet oxygenated water could be helpful at this time to reduce hypoxia, as OxyPet has over 700 times more oxygen in the form of nano bubbles.

Please don’t allow your dog to get to this level; precaution is the best course of action.

How to Help Our Dogs Stay Cool & Happy During the Summer Months Shaded Areas and Sunscreen

Encourage them to stay in shaded areas and away from direct sunlight. Apply a natural sunscreen if needed.

Crate Management

Be mindful of using crates in the summer months and ensure they are placed in the coolest part of the house and not in full sun. Find a shady spot; if not possible, make sure blinds and curtains are drawn to keep the room cool.
We would recommend leaving the door open to allow them to come out if they are too hot. If they can’t be trusted with free roaming, consider buying playpens to attach to a crate to give them more open space to cool down without access to the whole room. Cool mats can be used to give them an option to cool off when needed, and any winter covers should be removed in the warmer months.

Cool Resting Areas

Make sure your dog has somewhere to lay down that’s cool, giving them the choice to move from a bed if needed.

Hydration

It’s extremely important they have unrestricted access to water to keep hydrated and to regulate their temperature. OxyPet rehydrates twice as fast as regular water.
Make sure your dog has access to clean water at all times, ideally OxyPet in a large bowl filled to the brim. Always carry water & a bowl with you on walks.

Cooling Treats

Freeze some doggy-safe fruits in ice cube trays.

Indoor Comfort

Keep them indoors if temperatures are hot and put on a fan.
Put down damp towels for them to lie on or a cool mat. Some great options to look at:
Help For Paws - Ultimate Cooling Mat
Rywell Thermochromic Dog Cooling Mat

Water Play

Put the garden sprinkler on, but be aware of water intoxication. Don’t allow your pooch to drink too much while playing.
Keep a paddling pool in the shade for them to splash about in (be mindful that many brachycephalic breeds can’t swim due to their body shape and facial structure).

Cooling Gear

Invest in a good quality cooling coat that is well-fitted. Most work on evaporation to remove heat from your dog's body. Make sure the ones that you wet don’t become dry while your dog is wearing them. Some of our favourites:
True love MOKCCI Cooling Vest Harness
Hurtta Cooling Wrap
Easidri Cooling Coat
Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Harness
Spark Paws Cooling Vest

Cooling Bandanas - great for dogs who aren't comfortable in a harness or vest:

Frenchie Bulldog Cooling Bandana
All For Paws Chill Out Bandana
Ruffwear Swamp Cooler Neck Gaiter

Travel Tips

Avoid long car trips. If unavoidable, take regular stops and offer water regularly. Keep the car interior cool; a cooling mat would make your dog more comfortable.
Never leave your dog in a car or conservatory unattended. If you see a dog in a hot car panting or looking distressed, call the police. If the dog looks like it’s going to overheat, record the temperature at the time, take a photo of the dog, the registration of the car, and break a window furthest away from the dog to get it out. Take it to a shaded space, offer water, and await the police. If the dog is showing signs of heat stroke, don’t wait; get it to a vet as soon as you can!
Try to avoid taking your dog out in the midday sun. Early morning or evening walks will be cooler and more pleasant for your dog. Avoid walking on tarmac, pavements, and even sand where possible. These hot surfaces can damage your dog's pads, so test all surfaces with the back of your hand for a few seconds. If it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for little paws.

Keep them safe, don’t take chances!