Summer Safety Tips for Dogs: Expert Advice from a Veterinary Rehab Specialist
How to keep your dog safe in the summer sun. Dr Leilani Alvarez gives us her top tips for keeping your dog healthy in the hot summer months.
Written by Dr Leilani Alvarez, Director of Integrative and Rehabilitative Medicine at the Animal Medical Center, New York. Dr Alvarez specialises in canine musculoskeletal health and rehabilitation.
As the hot summer months approach, it’s important to recognise changing needs and risks that present to our pets during the warmer weather. Common health problems in dogs that I see during the summer are increased musculoskeletal injuries, heat stroke, and allergy flare-ups.
Here are my 5 top summer safety tips for your pooch:
How to Exercise Your Dog Safely in summer
One of the most commonly overlooked summer risks is musculoskeletal injury. As Dr Leilani Alvarez, Director of Integrative and Rehabilitative Medicine at the Animal Medical Center, explains: increased summer activity often catches dogs unprepared. After months of quieter winter routines, dogs are suddenly running, jumping, and playing fetch at a level their joints and muscles have not been conditioned for.
The risk is compounded in warmer weather. Heat causes muscles to fatigue more quickly, reaction times slow, and dogs are less likely to self-regulate their activity - they will keep running long past the point at which their body is giving warning signals.
A proper warm-up before exercise is not optional. Start with five to ten minutes of slow, relaxed walking before any higher-intensity activity. For dogs with a history of joint issues or those in their senior years, a more structured warm-up using sit-to-stand repetitions helps activate the major muscle groups around the hips and stifles before load is placed on them.
After exercise, allow adequate cool-down time in a shaded, ventilated area before your dog rests completely. Sudden transitions from intense activity to stillness in the heat increase the risk of stiffness and soreness.
Supporting your dog's joint health as part of their daily routine - not just when problems arise - is one of the most effective ways to help them stay active across the summer months and beyond. Explore Antinol Joint Care Pro for Dogs
How to Keep Your Dog Cool in Summer
When outside temperatures rise, it’s important to remember our pets can overheat quickly.
Unlike people, dogs are always wearing an extra layer with their hairy coats. In addition, dogs don’t sweat and only dissipate heat by panting—making them highly vulnerable to heat stroke.
NEVER EVER leave your dog in a car in the summer months—even with the windows cracked open, temperatures can quickly rise above 40°C inside.
If you are taking your dog for a walk, avoid the hottest times of day—do your exercise in the morning or evening hours when the temperatures are cooler. Always provide plenty of water to drink during and after exercise to help reduce overheating.
Make sure your dog has access to a water bowl in the summer heat, and consider spraying them off with fresh water.
After exercise, providing a shady, cool spot to rest helps them maintain a safe body temperature.
Signs of Heatstroke in Dogs: What to Watch For
Signs of heatstroke in dogs include:
- Heavy, laboured panting that does not settle
- Excessive drooling or thick, sticky saliva
- Red or pale gums
- Vomiting or diarrhoea
- Glazed eyes or disorientation
- Weakness, stumbling, or collapse
Heatstroke is an emergency. Current veterinary guidance from the Royal Veterinary College is clear: cool first, transport second. The sooner you bring your dog's temperature down, the better their chances, so start cooling straight away and get them to a vet as soon as they are being cooled.
If you suspect heatstroke:
- Move your dog to a cool, shaded area.
- Cool them with water as quickly as possible, using whatever water is available as long as it is cooler than your dog. For young, healthy dogs, immersion in cold water is the most effective method (keep their head above water at all times). For older dogs, or dogs with breathing difficulties or underlying health conditions, pour cool water over them and combine it with air movement from a fan, a breeze, or air conditioning.
- Keep the coat wet and the air moving until their breathing begins to settle.
- Offer small amounts of cool water to drink if they are conscious. Never force them to drink.
- Contact your vet as soon as cooling is underway. Heatstroke needs urgent professional assessment even if your dog appears to recover.
The old advice to use only tepid water and cool "slowly" has been overturned by research: rapid cooling with cool or cold water saves lives. The one thing to be careful of is your dog's airway. Keep their head clear of the water, especially if they are drowsy or struggling to breathe.
Summer Allergens, Parasites and Skin Health in Dogs
As our dogs spend more time outside in the summer, they are exposed to more allergens such as tree, flower and grass pollens. In addition, the moisture in the air can predispose dogs to skin yeast and bacterial infections.
One easy way to reduce allergen exposure is to bathe your dog regularly in clean water. This helps remove the surface allergens that build up on the skin. I recommend bathing every other week, although some highly allergic dogs may require more frequent bathing. You can also add a HEPA filter in your home to reduce allergens indoors and vacuum daily.
Adder bites and insect stings are also more likely during the days of summer, as is the risk of picking up parasites such as ticks and fleas. Keep your dog's parasite treatments up to date, and contact your vet if you think your dog has been stung or bitten.
Fleas thrive in warm, humid conditions. They can cause intense itching, skin irritation, and in some dogs trigger allergic reactions that lead to more serious skin conditions. Check your dog's coat regularly, particularly around the base of the tail, neck, and belly. Keep your home environment in mind too - flea eggs and larvae survive in carpets and soft furnishings, so household treatment is often necessary alongside treatment of your dog. Speak to your vet about the most appropriate prevention approach for your dog.
Ticks are most active between spring and autumn and are commonly found in woodland, grassland, and areas with long grass. They attach to the skin and feed on blood, and some carry diseases including Lyme disease, which can affect both dogs and humans. After every walk in high-risk areas, run your hands through your dog's coat and check around the ears, between the toes, and under the collar. If you find a tick, remove it carefully using a tick removal tool, twisting rather than pulling to avoid leaving the head in the skin. Your vet can advise on tick prevention products suitable for your dog.
Adder bites are more likely during the warmer months as adders - the UK's only venomous snake - become more active. Adders are typically found on heathland, moorland, and woodland edges. Most bites occur on the face or legs when a dog investigates or disturbs a basking snake. Signs of a bite include sudden swelling, pain, and lethargy. If you suspect your dog has been bitten, keep them calm, carry them rather than letting them walk, and contact your vet immediately.
Foods That Are Dangerous for Dogs in Summer
As we enjoy barbecues and outdoor gatherings, our fur babies are often fed foods that can harm them.
Top of the list is corn on the cob and cooked bones. Dogs tend to swallow these in large pieces and almost always cause intestinal obstructions that can be life-threatening. Do not ever feed your dog corn on the cob or cooked bones!
Other foods to avoid are high-fat foods (such as bacon, cheese, hot dogs, and hamburgers) that can cause diarrhoea or pancreatitis (which can also be life-threatening).
Summery foods that are toxic to dogs include raisins and grapes (cause kidney failure), xylitol (artificial sweetener found in chewing gum, ice cream, peanut butter and other foods that can cause dangerously low blood sugar in dogs), chocolate, macadamia nuts, onions, and garlic.
Lead Safety and Summer Injury Prevention
While many dogs are great off-leas, many are not! People love to let their dogs run off-lead in the summertime; however, this poses many risks.
Dogs off-lead can run away to chase a squirrel or other wildlife and can become lost, hit by a car or endure other injuries. The majority of bite wounds occur when pets are off-lead. It’s hard to predict another dog’s behaviour, and it’s always safest to have control of your dog.
Dogs are also more likely to over-exert themselves when playing with their friends, off-lead, in the park, leading to them over-exerting themselves and increasing their risk of heatstroke.
So, with the temperatures hotting up, get outside, have fun and stay safe with your dog.
Dr Leilani Alvarz is the director of Integrative and Rehabilitative Medicine at the Animal Medical Center in New York. Find out more about her work here.
Frequently asked questions
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What are the signs of heatstroke in dogs?
Signs of heatstroke in dogs include heavy, laboured panting that does not settle, excessive drooling, red or pale gums, vomiting, glazed eyes, disorientation, and in severe cases collapse. Flat-faced breeds such as French Bulldogs and Pugs are particularly vulnerable, as are overweight dogs and seniors. If you notice any of these signs, move your dog to a cool area immediately, wet their coat with cool water, and contact your vet straight away. Heatstroke is a veterinary emergency.
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How hot is too hot to walk a dog in the UK?
As a general guideline, temperatures above 20°C can pose a risk, particularly for flat-faced breeds, overweight dogs, and older dogs. However, air temperature alone is not the only factor - humidity, direct sun exposure, and pavement temperature all play a role. Use the five-second tarmac test before every walk: place the back of your hand flat on the pavement. If you cannot hold it there for five seconds, the ground is too hot for your dog's paw pads. In hot weather, walk your dog in the early morning or evening and keep outings short.
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Can dogs get sunburnt?
Yes. Dogs with short coats, white or light-coloured fur, and areas of exposed skin - such as the nose, ear tips, and belly - are most at risk of sunburn. Repeated sunburn on exposed areas can increase the risk of skin damage over time. On sunny days, limit the time your dog spends in direct sunlight during peak hours (between 11am and 3pm), provide access to shade, and ask your vet about pet-safe sun cream for particularly exposed areas.
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What foods should I keep away from my dog at a summer barbecue?
Several common barbecue foods are toxic or dangerous for dogs. Corn on the cob and cooked bones should never be given as both can cause serious intestinal obstructions. Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure even in small quantities. Onions and garlic, whether raw or cooked, are toxic to dogs. Xylitol, an artificial sweetener found in some condiments, chewing gum, and peanut butter, can cause dangerously low blood sugar. High-fat foods such as sausages, burgers, and bacon can trigger vomiting, diarrhoea, or pancreatitis. Keep your dog away from the food table and ensure guests know not to feed them scraps.
