Skip to content
i Still Love Dogs
i Still Love Dogs

…Dog news, tips & fun stuff

  • News
  • Awww
  • Heroes
  • Grrr
  • Tips
  • Pittie Party
  • About
i Still Love Dogs

…Dog news, tips & fun stuff

hot weather tips to keep dogs safe

6 Ways to Keep Your Dog Safe in Hot Weather

Laura Goldman, July 31, 2022July 31, 2022

hot weather tips to keep dogs safe

Here come the dog days of summer! As the temperatures rise, it’s especially important to make sure your dog has plenty of fresh water and a cool place to hang out during the hot weather.

Here are some important summer safety tips from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the ASPCA.

1. Never, ever, EVER leave your dog in your parked car. Ever.

“Not even for a minute. Not even with the car running and air conditioner on,” warns the HSUS.

“On a warm day, temperatures inside a vehicle can rise rapidly to dangerous levels. On an 85-degree day, for example, the temperature inside a car with the windows opened slightly can reach 102 degrees within 10 minutes. After 30 minutes, the temperature will reach 120 degrees. Your pet may suffer irreversible organ damage or die.”

Do your dog a favor and leave him at home while you run errands.

2. Skip heavy exercise.

Walk your dog in the early morning or early evening during the hot weather. Sidewalks and asphalt can get very hot, so walk your dog on the grass or have him wear booties.

“Be especially careful with pets with white-colored ears, who are more susceptible to skin cancer, and short-nosed pets, who typically have difficulty breathing,” the HSUS notes.

3. If your dog is panting hard, check his temperature.

“Animals pant to evaporate moisture from their lungs, which takes heat away from their body,” Dr. Barry Kellogg, VMD, of the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association, told the HSUS. “If the humidity is too high, they are unable to cool themselves, and their temperature will skyrocket to dangerous levels—very quickly.”

If your dog’s temperature is higher than 104 degrees, take him to a veterinarian or animal emergency hospital right away, because it could be heat stroke.

Other symptoms to watch for include drooling, weakness, seizures, vomiting and bloody diarrhea.

4. Don’t shave your dog.

While it’s fine to give your dog a haircut, the ASPCA says you should never completely shave off all his hair: “The layers of dogs’ coats protect them from overheating and sunburn.”

5. Keep insect repellents and citronella candles away from your dog.

“When walking your dog, steer clear of areas that you suspect have been sprayed with insecticides or other chemicals,” warns the ASPCA. “Keep citronella candles, oil products and insect coils out of pets’ reach as well.”

6. Supervise your dog around the pool.

Contrary to popular belief, some dogs are not natural swimmers. If you have a backyard swimming pool, be sure to teach your dog how to get out of it.

“Rinse your dog off after swimming to remove chlorine or salt from his fur, and try to keep your dog from drinking pool water, which contains chlorine and other chemicals that could cause stomach upset,” advises the ASPCA.

Photo credit: Gloria

Related

Tips dogs in cars

Post navigation

Previous post
Next post

Recent Posts

  • Dogs—Not Cats—May Prevent Babies from Developing Asthma
  • Rest in Paradise, Patrick the Miracle Dog
  • Guide Dog Terrified by Thunder Led Blind Owner to Safety on 9/11
  • Once Again, Adopted Dogs Featured in 2025 Rose Parade
  • 7 Examples That Prove Trump Is Clueless About Dogs

Most “Paw”pular Posts

  • Due to 'Pit Bulls and Parolees' Lawsuit, New Villalobos Sanctuary Planned
  • 5 Reasons Why Jon Stewart Is So Doggone Awesome
  • Frank Sinatra Loved the Ladies...and the Dogs
  • Rape Charges Dropped Against Toney Converse of 'Pit Bulls and Parolees'
  • Leonard Nimoy's L.A. Pet Store Did Not Live Long or Prosper

Like i Still Love Dogs on Facebook

Like i Still Love Dogs on Facebook

Follow @iStillLoveDogs on BlueSky

Follow @iStillLoveDogs on BlueSky

Subscribe to i Still Love Dogs

Enter your email address to receive notifications of new posts. I respect your privacy and will never sell your information.

Privacy Policy

about Laura Goldman
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
©2025 i Still Love Dogs | WordPress Theme by SuperbThemes
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. You can opt-out if you wish.Got it! Reject Privacy Policy
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT