When Is It Too Hot to Walk a Dog? | 6 expert tips

What is heatstroke?

We have a whole article on heatstroke in dogs. Reading that is a great starting point for learning more about recognising heatstroke and what to do if you are worried your dog might be affected.

In summary, though, heatstroke occurs when a dog gets too hot and is unable to cool themselves. Dogs are more susceptible to heatstroke than humans as they rely on panting to cool down and can only sweat through their nose and paw pads.

When is it too hot to walk my dog?

This can be a tricky one to give a definitive answer to as various climatic factors affect the rate at which dogs cool, including air temperature, radiant heat, humidity and windspeed. This, combined with the fact that some dogs are more at risk of heatstroke, due to their breed, age, weight or having an underlying health condition, means you need to assess the risk for your own dog. (3)

It is important to remember that exercise-related heatstroke can occur at any time of year though, and that in fact, the average temperature (with the above factors considered) reported for this type of heatstroke was just 16.5°C. (2)

General advice is usually that if the air temperature is below 19°C, the risk is fairly low unless you have a dog who is more susceptible to heatstroke. At 20-23°C you should keep to low-intensity exercise with no chasing or running! If it’s above 23°C, you should wait until it is cooler to take your canine bestie out and about.

If you are in any doubt, then it is always best to stay at home and stay cool – we have some tips to help keep your pet as cool as a cucumber.

Check surfaces!

No one wants blistered paws – ouch! Pavements, sand, or concrete all absorb heat and can get up to 50°C higher than the air temperature. (5) The rule of thumb is that if you can’t comfortably hold the palm of your hand down on the ground for 10 seconds, the pavement can burn and blister your dog’s paws, so don’t walk them!

When is the best time to walk my dog during the summer?

Early mornings and late evenings, when it is cooler, are the best times to take your four-legged friend out for a walk on hotter days. It can sometimes be pretty humid in the evenings, which can affect the rate at which your dog cools – so bear this in mind when deciding if it is safe to take your pooch out.

Woodland, shaded areas or places with safe water access will all help keep your dog cooler when out and about, and can make a walk more enjoyable, even at the cooler times of the day. It is also a good idea to take a water bowl with you to keep your dog well-hydrated.

Won’t my dog just stop when they get too hot?

Unfortunately, many dogs aren’t that good at self-regulating and will continue to chase a ball or run, even when they are hot and tired. This is why it is so important that you exercise your dog responsibly to help keep them safe. It is always best to keep it slow and steady, or not go for a walk at all if you are worried that it might be too warm.

The signs of heatstroke in dogs

It is vital that you are aware of the early signs of mild heatstroke so you can identify that there is a problem and act quickly:

Mild:

Excessive panting, even when activity stops
Stiffness
Reluctant to move
Fatigue

Moderate:

Drooling
Diarrhoea and vomiting
A single seizure
Collapse (but recovers)

Severe:

Incoordination/wobbliness
2 or more seizures
Depression
Unresponsiveness
Coma

Intervention when the signs are mild can be lifesaving, as dogs that reach severe signs are 65 times more likely to die. (2)

What to do if your dog has heatstroke

Here’s what you should do if you think you dog has heatstroke (6):

You should call your vet immediately and tell them you’re bringing in a dog with suspected heatstroke.
Move your dog into the shade.
Cool your dog down quickly – recent evidence in human medicine (4) suggests the best way to do this for adult dogs is cold water immersion.
Pour, hose or, if possible, immerse the pet in really cold water (this needs to be done under constant supervision, keeping the head above water). Don’t try to immerse the pet if it’s too large, or you are unable to do so without hurting yourself
NB: If using a hose pipe, make sure to run through any hot water that may be sitting in the tubing.
For older dogs, spraying them with very cold water and using a fan for air movement is best – this is known as evaporative cooling. (2)
DO NOT soak towels and leave them draped over the pet
Offer them water.
Switch on the air conditioning in the car before transporting the dog to the vet

Myth buster

Gradual cooling and not using cold water has previously been recommended, to prevent shivering and vasoconstriction (when blood vessels in the skin squeeze shut)… this has been busted! Rapid cooling is key! (2)

References:

Hall E. et al. (2020) Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016. Sci Rep. 2020 Jun 18;10(1):9128. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-66015-8. PMID: 32555323; PMCID: PMC7303136.
Bradbury J, et al. (2023). Canine heat-related illness – new perspectives from recent research. Companion Animal, 28(7), 2-5. https://doi.org/10.12968/coan.2023.0015
Hot Dogs: Heat Related Illness (Heatstroke) in UK Dogs https://www.rvc.ac.uk/Media/Default/VetCompass/240524%20Hot%20Dog%20infographic%20(1).pdf
Optimizing Cold-Water Immersion for Exercise Induced Hyperthermia: An Evidence Based Paper https://meridian.allenpress.com/jat/article/51/6/500/112770/Optimizing-Cold-Water-Immersion-for-Exercise
Salam A, et al. (2021) Thermal performance of cooling strategies for asphalt pavement: A state-of-the-art review. Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering (English Edition). 2021 8(3), 356-373. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtte.2021.02.001.
Advice from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) Hot Dogs: Heat Related Illness (Heatstroke) in UK Dogs https://www.rvc.ac.uk/Media/Default/VetCompass/240524%20Hot%20Dog%20infographic%20(1).pdf

When Is It Too Hot to Walk a Dog? | 6 expert tips | Bella & Duke (2024)