How to keep your dog cool in the heat: tips every UK owner needs

Heatstroke can kill a dog in under an hour. In the UK, where summers arrive suddenly and most dogs are not built for sustained heat, that is less dramatic than it sounds: it happens on ordinary warm days to ordinary dogs on ordinary walks. Exercise is the leading trigger, not hot cars. Here is what you need to know.

How does heat actually affect dogs?

Your dog cannot sweat through their skin. Panting is their main cooling mechanism: breathing in draws cooler air across moist nasal passages and the tongue, picking up body heat, which is expelled through the mouth on the way out.

The problem is that panting becomes less effective as humidity rises. A 24°C day with high humidity can be more dangerous than a clear 28°C day with a dry breeze. The moisture in the air limits how much heat your dog can shed. This is why UK dogs can get into trouble on what feels like a perfectly reasonable summer afternoon.

Nearly 75% of heat-related illness cases in UK dogs are caused by exertion, and 67.5% of those cases involve walking only. Not running. Not playing fetch in a field. Walking.

At what temperature is it too hot to walk your dog?

There is no single answer, because breed, age, weight and coat all affect how much heat a dog can handle. These thresholds, based on guidance from Blue Cross, Dogs Trust and the RSPCA, are a reasonable starting point:

Below 20°C: Normal exercise for most dogs.

20 to 24°C: Worth being cautious. Walk early or late, carry water, reduce intensity. Flat-faced breeds should already be limited at this range.

25°C and above: Avoid daytime walks for all dogs. Walk before 8am or after 8pm. Brachycephalic breeds, elderly dogs, overweight dogs and puppies should not walk outdoors at all.

Above 28°C: Too hot for any dog to exercise outdoors.

Individual dogs vary. When in doubt, err on the side of a shorter, earlier, quieter walk.

The pavement test you should do every time

Air temperature and ground temperature are not the same thing. Tarmac can be 40 to 60% hotter than the air above it. At an air temperature of 30°C, asphalt can reach 50 to 60°C. Burns to your dog's paw pads can happen in seconds, and dogs often do not show pain until the damage is done.

Press the back of your hand flat on the pavement for five seconds. If you cannot hold it there, do not walk your dog on it. Dogs Trust recommends five seconds; the Kennel Club recommends seven. Use whichever leaves you more cautious.

Test the surface where your dog will actually walk, not the shaded patch near your front door. Dark tarmac absorbs more heat than lighter concrete. Pavements retain heat well into the evening, so a walk that starts at 7pm after a hot day can still be risky.

Grass stays far cooler than tarmac. Route your walks through parks whenever possible on hot days.

Which dogs are most at risk?

Flat-faced breeds carry the highest risk. French Bulldogs, Pugs, English Bulldogs, Boxers and Shih Tzus cannot pant as efficiently because of their shortened muzzles. This is not a quirk; it directly limits their ability to cool down. The Kennel Club advises that brachycephalic breeds should avoid walks during peak heat entirely.

Elderly dogs have reduced cardiovascular efficiency and adapt to heat more slowly.

Overweight dogs generate more body heat and find it harder to shed.

Puppies under six months have softer, more sensitive paw pads and less-developed thermoregulation.

Thick-coated northern breeds like Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes and Chow Chows have coats built to retain heat. In summer, that works against them.

Dogs not used to warm weather struggle more. UK dogs encounter hot days infrequently, which means they are rarely acclimatised when a heatwave arrives.

10 practical ways to keep your dog cool

Walk at dawn or dusk. Before 8am is consistently the safest window in the UK. Evening walks after a hot day can still be dangerous if the pavement has not cooled. Test before you go.

Always carry water. Take a travel bottle and a collapsible bowl. Offer water regularly on walks, not just when your dog appears thirsty. Dogs do not always self-regulate well in heat.

Keep the house cool. Draw curtains on south-facing windows. A cool tiled floor in a hallway or bathroom is often the best spot for your dog to rest. If you have a fan, a damp dog sitting in front of it benefits from evaporative cooling. The fan alone does not help much.

Wet their coat with cool water. Focus on the belly, armpits and paw pads, where there is less fur. Avoid ice-cold water. It causes blood vessels to constrict, which can slow cooling rather than speed it up. This is especially important for older dogs or those with health conditions.

Never leave your dog in a car. Car temperatures rise within minutes, even with windows cracked, even on a mild day. There are no exceptions to this.

Keep conservatories and caravans off-limits. They heat up as quickly as cars and are equally dangerous.

Shorten walks and slow the pace. On warm days, a slow sniff-heavy walk in a shaded park is better than your dog's usual route at their usual pace. Mental enrichment at home, puzzle feeders and scent games can substitute for physical exercise without the heat risk.

Use pet-safe sunscreen on exposed skin. Light-coloured dogs and thin-coated breeds are vulnerable to sunburn, particularly on the ears, nose and belly. Use a sunscreen that is free from zinc oxide and PABA. Never use human sunscreen on dogs. Ask your vet if you are unsure what to buy.

Groom regularly, but do not shave double-coated breeds. Brushing out dead hair helps the skin breathe. But shaving breeds like Golden Retrievers, Border Collies, Labradors or Huskies is counterproductive: their outer coat insulates against heat as well as cold, and removing it can cause sunburn and disrupted temperature regulation. Clipping is sometimes appropriate; your groomer can advise.

Be careful with cooling mats. A self-cooling gel mat can help, but all mats warm up eventually. Once a mat reaches body temperature, it stops cooling. If it is not re-cooled, it can insulate your dog and make things worse. Check it regularly and never leave your dog unsupervised on one.

What about paddling pools, ice cubes and frozen treats?

A paddling pool in the shade is one of the best things you can offer a dog who likes water. Let them choose when to get in and out. Keep it shaded because direct sunlight warms the water quickly.

Ice cubes in small amounts are fine. A few in their water bowl keeps the water cooler. Some dogs enjoy crunching them. Supervise to prevent choking, and do not give a large block.

Frozen treats and lick mats in the freezer are useful on hot days and will keep a dog occupied while staying cool indoors.

Do not put damp towels over your dog. This is a common piece of advice that is wrong. Towels placed on top of a dog trap heat against the body. A damp towel placed underneath can provide some benefit if re-wetted frequently.

How to recognise heatstroke

Act immediately if you see any of these signs:

• Heavy, continuous panting, louder or more laboured than usual
• Excessive drooling or thick, stringy saliva
• Bright red, pale or bluish gums
• Restlessness
• Glazed or vacant eyes
• Stumbling, disorientation or loss of coordination
• Vomiting or diarrhoea
• Collapse

Do not wait to see if your dog improves on their own.

What to do if you suspect heatstroke

The Royal Veterinary College and RSPCA both now recommend Cool First, Transport Second. The older advice to drive straight to the vet without cooling first can worsen the condition, particularly in a warm car.

Stop all activity. Move your dog to a cool, shaded, well-ventilated spot immediately.

Start cooling with cool water. For a young, healthy dog, immersion in cool (not ice-cold) water is the most effective method. Keep their head above water. If immersion is not possible, pour cool water continuously over the body, focusing on the belly, armpits and paws.

For older dogs or those with health conditions, use room-temperature water rather than cold, and combine with air movement from a fan or breeze.

Offer small amounts of cool water to drink if your dog is conscious and can swallow safely.

Call your vet immediately while you continue cooling. Do not wait until you arrive at the practice to start the cooling process.

Transport once temperature begins to drop. Keep the car air-conditioned or windows open throughout. Continue cooling in transit.

Wet then vet. In that order.