Hot spells catch many dog owners out, because a walk or car journey that feels normal to a person can be dangerous for a dog. This article summarises advice published by the RSPCA, the animal welfare charity, on keeping dogs safe in hot weather. It is welfare guidance rather than a statement of the law in any nation.
Cars and enclosed spaces
The RSPCA’s advice is not to leave dogs in cars, caravans, conservatories or outbuildings in warm weather, even for a short while. It gives a stark example: when it is 22°C outside, temperatures in these spaces can quickly rise to 47°C. The charity’s separate page on hot walks adds a point many owners do not expect. It says dogs are 10 times more likely to suffer heat-related illness from exercising in hot weather than from overheating in cars. In other words, the car is a serious risk, but the walk itself deserves just as much caution.
Planning walks
The RSPCA recommends exercising dogs in the early morning or late evening, when temperatures are cooler. For any walk in warm weather, its hot-walks guidance suggests a simple routine of preparing, watching and acting:
- Prepare: research where there will be shade, bring a portable water dispenser and offer water every 15 to 20 minutes.
- Watch: monitor your dog continuously for signs of overheating.
- Act: if you see signs, stop moving, provide water and find shade.
The pavement test
Hot ground can injure paws. The RSPCA’s test is simple: if the ground is too hot to touch with your hand for five seconds, it is too hot for paws. Its hot-walks page says to test with the back of your hand before setting out. Signs that a dog’s paws have been affected include limping, licking the feet, darkened pads or blistering.
Which dogs are at higher risk?
According to the RSPCA, higher-risk dogs include:
- Flat-faced breeds such as pugs, French bulldogs, bulldogs, Shih Tzus and boxers, which need extra cooling measures.
- Dogs with health conditions, including those that are unfit, overweight or living with heart or respiratory disease.
- Dogs with thick coats.
If your dog falls into one of these groups, the charity’s general advice applies with more force: shorter, cooler outings and closer monitoring.
Cooling your dog at home
The RSPCA lists several ways to help a dog stay comfortable when it is warm, alongside constant access to shade and clean, cold drinking water:
- Frozen ice cubes, either as treats or added to water bowls.
- A damp towel to lie on. The charity stresses that it should never be draped over the dog.
- A paddling pool or garden sprinkler, but only if your dog enjoys water.
- Pet-safe sunscreen on exposed skin such as the tips of the ears and nose, which matters particularly for dogs with white or light-coloured fur, according to the RSPCA.
Recognising heatstroke
The signs the RSPCA lists are heavy panting and difficulty breathing, excessive drooling, lethargy or drowsiness, lack of coordination, collapse and vomiting. Its instruction is to contact a vet immediately if you notice them. The charity’s hot-walks guidance also says that if a dog’s condition worsens you should follow emergency first aid, so it is worth reading that page before summer rather than during an emergency. Keeping your vet’s contact details, including any out-of-hours number, somewhere easy to find is a sensible precaution.
A hot-weather routine worth adopting
Because the risks come from several directions at once, it helps to turn the advice into a fixed routine rather than a list you have to remember on the day. Check the forecast the evening before, plan the walk for the coolest part of the day, pack water, and never make a “quick stop” with your dog left in the car. Test the pavement before you set out rather than after your dog starts limping, and choose routes with shade, since the charity’s guidance asks you to research shade in advance. Keep an eye on your dog’s breathing and behaviour throughout, and be ready to stop and head home early.
After the walk
Heat problems do not always show up while you are still outside. Once home, check your dog’s paws for the signs the RSPCA describes, which are limping, foot licking, darkened pads or blistering, and make sure cold water is available straight away. Give the dog a shaded, cool place to rest. For higher-risk dogs, such as flat-faced breeds, the charity’s advice on extra cooling measures continues indoors, so it is worth having ice cubes, a damp towel and a cool resting area ready before you head out rather than after you return.
The bottom line
The RSPCA’s advice comes down to a few firm habits: never leave a dog in a car or other enclosed space in warm weather, walk early or late, apply the five-second pavement test, carry water, and give extra care to flat-faced, overweight, thick-coated and unwell dogs. If a dog shows signs of heatstroke, contact a vet immediately. This is charity welfare guidance and does not describe the law in any part of the UK.