As summer temps rise, how to keep pets safe while out in the heat

One of the best things about summer is enjoying a nice walk with your dog on a sunny day.

But with recent temperatures spiking into triple digits, it is also important to keep in mind that the heat can pose real dangers to all pets.

While leaving a pet inside the car on a hot day might seem like the most negligent of mistakes, these incidents still do happen every year - and the heat isn't just a threat for pets in closed spaces.

According to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), "140 animals endured heat–related deaths and another 365 were rescued from the heat," in 2025. And those are only the reported numbers.

Overheating, especially in hot summer weather, is a real risk for pets.

In addition to keeping pets well hydrated and up to date on their general health, here are some extra tips to keep your pets safe while enjoying the upcoming summer season.

How to keep your dog from overheating during a walk on a hot day

Getting a sense of how hot the pavement is before going out on a walk with your dog is a good first step, said Frank Caporale, a volunteer veterinarian with the Flagler Humane Society, in a phone interview with The News-Journal.

"One of the rules of thumb is … if you put the back of hand on the ground, wherever it might be - concrete, asphalt - if you can hold your hand down after seven seconds (comfortably), it's OK to walk the pet," Caporale said.

But if it's too warm for those seven seconds, "it's not conducive to the pet's walk."

Dogs have sweat glands in their paws and rely on them to regulate body temperature, Caporale said.

While paw pads can burn on an extremely hot surface, the more alarming danger is the risk of your pet overheating.

"It's like you or I are running a marathon, and I have a hot towel on my back," he said. "Eventually, I'm not going to be able to thermoregulate myself."

That is why paying attention to their behavior during walks on a hot day is crucial.

"They'll show us signs," Caporale said. "They might (stop) and not want to go forward anymore."

Taking a rest on the grass or under in the shade can help cool down.

"They can only release heat through their panting or through their paws," Caporale said. "If they can't release their heat, they are going to get hot."

Should you shave your pet's fur to keep it cool on a hot day?

No. Shaving your dog's fur is not a good way to help keep your dog's body temperature stable.

"Dogs in general … their hair acts as a radiator, to radiate some of the heat off the body," Caporal said. "You can trim the dog down, but you can't shave them to the skin."

Bare skin can in fact increase a pet's chance of overheating, as their fur can help ventilate the air near their body and keep body temperature regulated.

Owners whose pets have to be shaven for medical reasons are encouraged to keep them out of the heat, Caporale said.

How to tell if your dog is overheating, needs medical help

During a walk on a hot day, and even after coming back home, there are signs that could indicate your dog is overheating.

Besides frantic panting, extreme salivation, vomiting, bright-red gums and elevated body temperature are the main signs of overheating.

After the walk, if a dog's body temperature is 101 degrees and continuing to climb, that's when owners should seek a veterinarian's help "as soon as possible," Caporale said.

But there are things you can do at home to help prevent the effects of overheating.

Dampening a towel with lukewarm water and putting a fan near the animal is a good idea. Using ice cold water might sound like the right thing to do, but it can cause a temperature shock on the body, as it struggles to regulate a very sudden and drastic change of internal temperature.

Using cold water to cool their feet, on the other hand, can be helpful, Caporale said.

- Brenno Carillo is a local government reporter covering Flagler County, including Palm Coast and Flagler Beach, for The Daytona Beach News-Journal.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: As summer temps rise, how to keep pets safe while out in the heat

Reporting by Brenno Carillo, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal

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Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect

This story was originally published June 30, 2026 at 10:52 AM.