Ten tips for cooling down your dog in hot weather
by Valerie De Clerck on Sep 21 2023· 5 min readKey takeaways
- Give your dog shade, cool tiled floors, and a schedule that avoids the hottest hours so he can regulate his own body temperature.
- Offer fresh, cool (not ice-cold) water on hot days, since panting is his main way of shedding heat and he'll need more fluids to keep up with it.
- Watch for early heatstroke signs, heavy panting that doesn't ease up, collapse, drooling, or vomiting, and get to a vet right away if they appear.
- Never leave your dog alone in a parked car, and take extra care with short-snouted breeds like bulldogs and pugs, who overheat more easily.
Summer at last. Time to enjoy the sunshine, but keep an eye on your bestie: dogs exposed to high temperatures for too long can become dehydrated, develop diarrhoea, or in severe cases die of heatstroke.[1] With these ten tips, you'll be able to keep your buddy cool.
1. Provide shade
Make sure your dog can always retreat into the shade when he's out in the garden, on a terrace, or at the beach. A cool tiled floor lets him regulate his body temperature through contact with his skin.
2. Don't take him for walks during the hottest part of the day
Avoid the (after)noon sun. Walk him early in the morning or late in the evening. If you do have to walk him at the hottest time of day, take it easy. Don't throw a ball around and don't let him romp with other dogs, because in his enthusiasm your buddy won't feel the heat building up and can overheat without realising it. Cycling in hot weather (above 20 degrees) isn't a great idea either.
3. Protect his paw pads
Tarmac or beach sand can get very hot. To be on the safe side, test it with your own hand first. Even though your dog's paw pads offer some natural protection, he can still end up with blisters after walking across hot asphalt, especially if he's been running alongside your bike. Walk him across grass or in the shade instead.
4. Make sure he has fresh drinking water
Dogs cool down mainly by panting: air moving over the moist surfaces of the tongue and airways evaporates that moisture, and the evaporation pulls heat out of the body. It's the dog's main defence against overheating, so on hot days he'll also drink more than usual.[2] Bring water along on walks. These days you can get clever bottles with a drinking bowl built in.
One thing to watch: don't let your dog drink too much water at once, and don't give him water that's too cold, or he'll end up with a sore stomach. Don't let him drink from stagnant water either. On hot days it turns into a breeding ground for bacteria.
5. Give him a refreshing shower or let him have a plunge
We all love a plunge in the pool or sea when the weather turns hot, and plenty of dogs love it too. Do check whether the swimming water is safe first. In hot summers, blue-green algae become a real problem, and your local town will have a list of places where swimming is safe.
Playing with the garden hose is another one many dogs enjoy. It burns off energy and keeps him cool at the same time, killing two birds with one stone.
You can also give your dog a good wash with fresh water. One catch: after a wash with a regular dog shampoo, it takes about seven days for the skin to recover. That's why we developed Sheen & Shine, a pH-neutral shampoo that doesn't damage your pet's skin. It contains only mild ingredients, no sulphates, and it's microbiome-friendly.
6. Cooling down dogs who don't like swimming
Maybe your dog isn't all that keen on water. Not a problem: there are plenty of other ways to keep him cool, like a cooling mat or bandana. We'd especially recommend them for dogs with short snouts, such as bulldogs and pugs, who find it harder to cool down and are at greater risk of heatstroke.[3] Your dog will thank you for the extra relief.
Needless to say, cooling mats and bandanas work just as well for dogs that love water.
7. Let the breeze in
Air cools as it moves. A fan can offer your dog welcome relief from the heat on hot days. Just make sure he can't get too close to the fan and that he can move away if it becomes too draughty for him.
Good to know: signs of heatstroke
Heatstroke can escalate fast, so it helps to know what to watch for: heavy or continuous panting that doesn't ease up once your dog is out of the heat, collapse or reluctance to move, drooling, vomiting or diarrhoea, wobbliness, and in severe cases seizures or collapse. If you notice any of these, move your dog to shade or a cool area, offer small amounts of cool (not ice-cold) water, and contact a vet straight away.[1][4]
8. NEVER EVER leave your dog in your car unattended
In cars, the temperature rises fast. So leaving your dog in your car is a definite no-no, even if the sun isn't shining and the windows are cracked open. Never leave your dog in the car on his own. We cannot emphasise this enough: the last thing you want is the heartbreaking discovery that your dog has died in the heat.
9. Doggy ice cream, but in moderation
Doggy ice cream is a thing. You can make your own by freezing a little food and water in a plastic cup. Your buddy will love it. Start with a small amount, though, because dogs with sensitive stomachs can develop a serious tummy ache from food that's very cold.
10. Sunblock
Is your dog a real sun worshipper? If so, remember to apply sunscreen to any hairless skin, like his nose and the tips of his ears.
Keep your dog comfortable all summer
From gentle, microbiome-friendly grooming to everyday care essentials, browse the products we've put together for dogs who love the outdoors as much as their humans do.
Shop dog care productsReferences
[1] Hall, E.J., Carter, A.J., O'Neill, D.G. (2020). Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016. Scientific Reports, 10, 9128.
[2] Goldberg, M.B., Langman, V.A., Taylor, C.R. (1981). Panting in dogs: paths of air flow in response to heat and exercise. Respiration Physiology, 43(3), 327-338.
[3] Ewers Clark, A. (2022). Heatstroke and brachycephalic dogs: is there an increased risk? Veterinary Evidence, 7(4).
[4] Bruchim, Y., Horowitz, M., Aroch, I. (2017). Pathophysiology of heatstroke in dogs, revisited. Temperature, 4(4), 356-370.
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