Plenty of our furry friends love soaking up the sun. My own dog, Dave, will spend hours lounging in the sunshine perfecting his tan — even with his thin layer of black fur. On warm days, most animals naturally regulate their body heat: they’ll seek out shade, lap up cold water, or stretch out on the cool tile of a bathroom floor. But sometimes, our beloved companions need a little extra help to avoid overheating and the life-threatening risk of heatstroke.
“As a general rule of thumb, if it’s too hot for people, it’s too hot for animals to be outside for any extended period of time,” explains Jerry Klein, chief veterinarian for the American Kennel Club. The single best thing you can do is pay close attention to your pet’s behavior and prioritize heatstroke prevention above all else. Always ensure they have constant access to fresh, cold water and a dedicated cool space to retreat to. You can help them regulate their temperature with a fan, a damp towel, or a cool water bath — a tip echoed by Emily Hall, a veterinarian and lecturer at the UK’s Royal Veterinary College, whose research centers on pet heatstroke.
If you’ve taken these cooling steps and still spot signs of overheating in your pet — excessive panting, lethargy, vomiting, or any uncharacteristic behavior — they need immediate attention, and may require urgent veterinary care. Hall’s golden rule for heat emergencies is simple: “wet, then vet.”
If you have taken those steps and still see signs that your pet might be overheating — panting excessively, acting lethargic, vomiting, or just seeming off — they might need medical care. A good rule of thumb is “wet, then vet,” said Hall. “You want to start cooling them before you start transporting them,” she said. Klein seconded that. He added, “If a dog overheats and it looks like heatstroke, and you think you’ve got it under control, always get them seen by a vet. Because sometimes there can be internal changes that can occur hours later.”
That said, heat tolerance varies widely from one pet to the next. Factors like size, age, breed, and coat type all play a role in how well your dog or cat acclimates to hot weather. For most healthy pets, a daily walk or afternoon outing in the summer won’t result in an emergency trip to the vet — especially with the right preparation.
You can even use some products to help ensure that your pet stays cool and comfortable. We tried several to see how well they worked, and we found beds, mats, water bottles, harnesses, and cots that can help a pet stay a little cooler in the heat.