A car heats up even when the sky looks kind and even when a window is slightly open. Shade moves. Do not leave a dog in a parked car while you step into a shop. If the journey needs a stop, one person stays with the animal in a cool place, or the animal stays at home. This is a rule, not a judgement you remake when the queue looks short.
Walk in the cooler part of the day, carry water, and let dogs drink. Dogs who are overweight, very young, very old, or flat-faced struggle sooner. Watch for heavy panting, staggering, gum colour that looks dark or brick red, or a dog who will not get up. Move them to shade, offer cool water if they can drink safely, wet their coat with cool — not icy — water, and telephone a vet while you do it. Do not wait to see if a rest is enough.
Gardens change in summer. Check ponds, uncovered drains, and cocoa-shell mulch. Barbecue food, corn cobs, and bones disappear into dogs with impressive speed. Keep insect bait and weed killers where paws and mouths cannot reach, including the shed floor. Slug pellets are a common emergency and not a mess to clear up tomorrow.
Cats feel heat too, especially if they are shut in a conservatory. Leave water in more than one place. A warm windowsill is a pleasure until the room becomes a trap. Groom out thick dead coat so air can reach the skin, without shaving a coat that also protects from sunburn. Ask your vet before you clip.
If you are worried, call. This page cannot tell you whether an animal has heatstroke. It offers no medicines. Ask your vet, including an out-of-hours service if your usual clinic is shut.
Printable summary
- Never leave an animal in a car on a warm day.
- Offer water and choose the cooler ends of the day.
- Flat-faced dogs cope less well with heat.
- If you suspect heat distress, call a vet while you cool them.
Last reviewed: 2 April 2026. Reviewed by: [vet name to be completed]. Ask your vet before you change what you do at home.
