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How to Keep Pets Cool This Summer
August 4, 2025
TLDR:
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Hydration and Sun Protection: Ensure pets have access to cool, fresh water and shade to prevent overheating.
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Safe Exercise: Limit outdoor activities during the hottest parts of the day and test surfaces for heat before allowing pets to walk on them. “If you wouldn't walk barefoot on these surfaces, your pet shouldn't either,” says Uptown Veterinary Hospital in North Carolina.
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Cooling Methods: Use cooling supplies like cloths, vests, and crate pads to help pets stay cool.
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Heatstroke Signs: Watch for excessive panting, thick drool, and dark red gums as early signs of heatstroke.
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Immediate Action: If a pet shows signs of heat stress, move them to a cool spot, offer water to drink, and wet, then vet. (Wet their body with cool (not ice cold) water before contacting a vet.)
Just Be Cool
While dogs famously pant to keep cool and sweat through their paws, pets have varied cooling mechanisms, and what works for one may not work for another. All pets appreciate cool, shaded places. Whether in the backyard or a dark corner of your house, make sure pets have access to cooler places to rest. Keep fish tanks or bird cages out of direct sunlight, and make sure rooms are well ventilated, with cross-breeze, fans, or air conditioning.
Dogs: Water & Pools
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Paddle pools can help dogs cool off; ensure water is shallow enough if you have a small dog or and puppy and keep your eye on them.
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Consider using cooling supplies such as cooling cloths, vests, crate pads, or cold, wet towels.
Cats: Brushing & Cool Spots
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Brush cats more often than usual to prevent problems caused by excessive heat.
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Cats regulate their heat by moving to shade or splaying out on cool surfaces, so make sure to move cat trees or climbing platforms somewhere cool.
Fish, Lizards, and Birds: Enclosure Conditions
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Tanks and cages for pet fish, lizards, and birds should be kept away from direct sunlight to prevent overheating. Remember, as the earth tilts and moves through seasons, the sun pattern across your house will also change!
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Regularly change the water in their tanks and cages, which helps keep water, and pets, cool.
Safe Exercise and Paw Protection
Just like us, pets like to have plenty of cool, fresh water and access to shade, both indoors and out. And did you know dogs can suffer from sunburn? Think of sensitive, exposed skin like noses, ears, and their face, and be particularly mindful if you pet has white fur or thin coats. You can apply sunscreen to help protect them before prolonged sun exposure and reapplying as needed for long days — same rules for you! And while it may seem logical to shave pets to keep them cool, their coats act as a natural insulator, keeping them cool by trapping air and blocking heat.
On super warm days, keep outdoor, midday activities and exercise to a minimum — it’s a good time to get up early and go for a walk, or take the fam out after dinner. If you live in really hot climates (we’re looking at you, AZ) test sidewalks and pavement with your hand. “Concrete, sand, asphalt, wood, and metal surfaces become unbearably hot after just a few hours of direct sun exposure. If you wouldn't walk barefoot on these surfaces, your pet shouldn't either,” says Uptown Veterinary Hospital in North Carolina.
What To Do If Your Pet Seems Stressed
Thankfully, pets give us signs and signals when they’re not well, and overheating has some telltale signs. Even when days feel tolerable to us, they may be too hot for pets. Make sure to pay attention to excessive panting that may be unusually loud, thick drool, or dark red gums or tongue. These physical indicators can be early signs of heatstroke, that if not treated, can turn into an emergency fast. What to do?
Take immediate action and move them to a cool, shaded spot, offer fresh, cool water to drink, and begin gently wetting their body with cool (never ice-cold) water. And here's the golden rule: "wet, then vet," says Emily Hall, a veterinarian and lecturer at the Royal Veterinary College UK, whose research has focused on heatstroke in pets. And even if they seem to recover, contact your veterinarian right away for a professional check-up.
Resources
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-gear-to-keep-pets-cool/