Feeling hot, hot, hot! 🥵
June 30, 2025
As the sun shines brighter and temperatures soar, it’s important to make sure your furry family members stay safe, happy, and healthy. Just like us, our pets can struggle in the heat — but with a few simple precautions, you can help them stay cool and comfortable.
🌡️ Watch for Signs of Heat Stress
Unlike humans, pets cannot sweat so they rely on panting and limited sweating through their paws to cool down. Signs of heat exhaustion include:
- Excessive panting or drooling
- Weakness or lethargy
- Vomiting
- Bright red gums or tongue
- Collapse
If you notice any of these symptoms, move your pet to a cool place immediately, wet them with cold water and contact us or your nearest emergency vet.
🚫 Never Leave Pets in a Parked Car
Even on a mild day, a parked car can turn into an oven in minutes. Leaving a window cracked is not enough to keep the temperature safe. When in doubt, it’s best to leave your pet at home in the cool with the curtains closed – this is particularly important for elderly, overweight, or brachycephalic (short nosed) breeds. Similarly, never leave a pet in a conservatory.
🐶 Hydration is Key
Make sure your pet always has access to fresh, clean water. If you’re heading out for a walk (outside of the main heat of the day), take a portable water bowl and extra water. You can even add ice cubes to their bowl for a refreshing treat!
🏖️ Walk Smart
Try to walk your dog early in the morning or later in the evening when it’s cooler. Hot pavement can burn paw pads — if you wouldn’t walk barefoot on it, neither should they! Finding walks with shaded grassy paths helps to keep them safe and we are lucky to live near to such lovely green spaces.
Avoid playing ball games as this is very high energy play and can easily cause overheating. If you have multiple dogs, you may need to restrict inter-dog play as they often don’t know when is a good time to stop and rest.
❄️ Create Cool Zones at Home
Whether you have a dog, cat, or small furry, make sure they have a shaded place to rest. You can also use fans, pet cooling mats, or damp towels to lie on for extra relief. Do not cover pets, even with damp towels, as they quickly radiate heat back and increase the body temperature.
🐕🦺 Grooming for Comfort
Regular brushing helps remove excess fur, which can help your pet stay cooler. But don’t overdo it — some breeds rely on their coat for insulation. Check breed specific guidelines.
🐇 Small Furries
Ensure cages and enclosures are kept out of the direct sun and are well ventilated. Rabbits in particular, are prone to flystrike (when flies lay their eggs in their fur) and this can very quickly become fatal once the maggots hatch. Keep spaces clean and check your rabbits bottom at least once a day and clean and dry if needed.
💙 We’re Here for You
Whether you need advice, a summer check-up, or just want to say hello, we’re always happy to see you and your pets. Give us a call or book an appointment online!
