How to Prepare Your Pet for Hot Summer Days: A Complete Guide

Summer is in full swing, and with it come tropical temperatures. While we can put on our swimsuits and jump into the pool, our four-legged friends rely on their fur and our responsibility. Dogs and cats don't sweat like humans do—they cool down primarily through panting and the sweat glands on their paw pads. Therefore, the threat of overheating is much more real and dangerous for them.

How can you ensure your furry companion enjoys a healthy and comfortable summer? Here are the most important rules.

1. The Five-Second Rule for Paws

Asphalt and concrete can heat up to over 50 °C (120 °F) in the summer sun. This can cause severe burns to their paw pads. Before you head out for a walk, place the back of your hand on the pavement. Can you hold it there for five seconds? If not, the surface is too hot for dog paws.

• The Solution: Walk your dog early in the morning or late in the evening. For necessary trips during the day, choose shaded paths, grass, or woods.

2. Hydration is Absolutely Essential

It sounds trivial, but access to fresh water is the alpha and omega. Water should be available in multiple places around the house and changed regularly.

• Travel tip: Carry a travel water bottle with a bowl on every trip or longer walk. You can even add a few ice cubes to their bowl at home.

3. Fur is an Insulator, Not an Enemy

Many well-meaning owners have their dogs shaved or cut very short for the summer. However, for breeds with an undercoat (e.g., Retrievers, Shepherds, Spitzes), this is a major mistake. Their coat acts as thermoregulation—it keeps them warm in the winter, but in the summer, it insulates them from the heat and protects their skin from sunburn.

• The right approach: Regularly brush out the dead undercoat so the skin can breathe, but leave the top layer of fur intact.

4. Cooling Zones and Aids

At home, make sure your pet has access to cooler rooms (for example, on the tiles in the bathroom or hallway). Cooling mats, which work with a pressure-activated gel, are great helpers. For dogs that love water, a small kiddie pool in the garden is ideal.

5. The Deadly Trap Called a Car

This rule cannot be repeated enough: Never, under any circumstances, leave an animal in a closed car. The temperature inside a vehicle can rise to lethal levels within minutes, even if it's cloudy or the windows are cracked open.

⚠️ How to Recognize Heatstroke and Overheating

Even with the best care, an animal might sometimes succumb to the heat. Heatstroke in dogs and cats can have fatal consequences within minutes.

Key warning signs:

• Extremely fast and noisy breathing (heavy panting)

• Dark red to purple gums and tongue

• Excessive drooling (thick, sticky saliva)

• Lethargy, inability to stand, or staggering

• In severe cases, vomiting, diarrhea, or seizures

First Aid: If you suspect overheating, move the animal to the shade or a cool room immediately. Start cooling them down gradually—but never use ice-cold water! Use lukewarm water and soaked towels, applying them to the groin, belly, and paws.

Every minute counts in these situations. Instead of the stressful transport of a collapsed animal in a hot car to a regular clinic, the ideal solution can be calling a mobile veterinary ambulance, which will initiate intensive care (such as intravenous rehydration) directly at your home.

You can request a veterinary ambulance dispatch here.

You can book an at-home veterinary examination here. You can book an examination at our clinic in Prague 2 here.

You can book a remote telephone consultation here.

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*All information provided on this website, as well as information provided through this website, is for educational purposes only. None of the information presented here is intended as a substitute for a medical diagnosis, and such information cannot be considered medical advice or recommended treatment.

**Image source: Google Gemini