How to Cool Down a Dog and Keep Them Cool in Summer

How to cool a hot dog down fast

Step 1: Stop all activity and get your dog out of the sun, ideally into an air-conditioned room. Step 2: Sponge or pour cool water over the belly, armpits, paws and the inside of the back legs, where fur is thinnest. Step 3: Put your dog in front of a fan so the water evaporates, which is what actually pulls the heat out.

Step 4: Offer room-temperature water to drink if your dog is alert. Step 5: Keep checking. Breathing should slow within a few minutes. The AKC advises against ice or very cold water, which can cause shock, and VCA advises against covering a dog with wet towels, which traps heat.

When overheating is an emergency

The AKC lists heavy panting, fast breathing, excessive drooling, bright red gums and tongue, hot skin and trouble balancing as early signs of heatstroke. The ASPCA adds weakness, stupor, collapse, seizures and bloody vomit or diarrhea. Any of these means call your vet or an emergency vet now, and keep cooling on the way.

A dog's normal resting temperature is about 99 to 102.5°F, and the AKC treats anything over 104°F as heat stress. Even if your dog seems to recover after cooling, the AKC says a vet visit is still essential, because heat can damage organs in ways that are not visible straight away.

How to keep your dog cool indoors

Air conditioning is the most reliable option, and the ASPCA suggests keeping flat-faced, senior, overweight and heart- or lung-compromised pets in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible on hot days. If you have no air conditioning, keep blinds closed during the day, run fans, and let your dog rest on cool tile or a cooling mat rather than carpet.

A frozen treat helps too: freeze low-sodium broth or plain yogurt in a stuffed rubber toy or lick mat for a cool, long-lasting distraction. Keep several water bowls filled and add a few ice cubes to one. Avoid shaving your dog, because the ASPCA notes the coat helps protect against overheating and sunburn.

How to keep outdoor dogs cool

A dog outside on a hot day needs real shade that moves with the sun, plenty of fresh water in a bowl that will not tip, and a cool place to lie. The AKC suggests a hard plastic wading pool made for dogs for a splash. Bring your dog inside during the hottest part of the day, especially if the heat stays high into the evening.

A dog house is not shade on a hot day. VCA lists poorly ventilated dog houses among the places dogs overheat, along with yards without shade or water. The AKC suggests keeping small breeds outside for only 10 to 15 minutes once it is above 90°F, and says even arctic breeds should not be left out long in that heat.

Walks, exercise and cars in summer

Walk in the early morning or evening, choose grass and shady routes, and keep walks short on very hot days. The AKC notes that when the air is 86°F, asphalt can reach 135°F, so test the pavement with your hand for ten seconds before you set off. Bring water on every outing and let your dog set a slower pace.

Never leave your dog in a parked car, even for a few minutes with the windows cracked. The ASPCA warns it can cause fatal heat stroke and is illegal in several states, and VCA names the hot car as the most common cause of heat stroke. On road trips, keep the air conditioning on and take your dog with you at every stop.

Dogs that need extra care in the heat

Flat-faced breeds such as Pugs, Bulldogs and Boston Terriers cannot pant as effectively and can overheat in moderate weather. Puppies, senior dogs, overweight dogs and dogs with heart or breathing problems also struggle, as do thick-coated breeds bred for cold climates. For these dogs, plan the day around the heat rather than squeezing exercise into it.

If your dog has a health condition, ask your vet what is safe before summer starts. The ASPCA also recommends an early-summer checkup, which is a good time to ask about heat.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.