Originally published 2019-06-29. Article reviewed on October 4, 2026. Original publication: 2019-06-29.
Adapt plans to your dog's health and the conditions. A cooling product does not make every outing safe.
- Offer water and shade. Keep fresh water available and take breaks.
- Choose cooler times. Shorten or cancel activity when conditions are unsuitable.
- Protect paws. Avoid hot surfaces; fitted boots do not remove the need to check conditions.
- Keep enrichment simple. Use suitable food in an undamaged toy under supervision. Avoid hanging ropes, cloth strips and small objects that can entangle a dog or be swallowed.
- Supervise water activity. Do not force swimming or assume every dog is a capable swimmer.
- Plan safe transport. Never leave the dog unattended in a vehicle. Fans, air conditioning and remote alerts can fail.
Contact a veterinarian promptly if your dog becomes unwell in the heat. The original article's unattended-vehicle instructions and hazardous frozen-bucket recipe have been removed.