Pet Weather
Pet Heat Wave Safety: Dogs, Cats, Pavement, Cars, and Cooling
How to protect pets during heat waves, including pavement burns, parked cars, shade, hydration, breed risk, and warning signs.
Quick answer: Pets can overheat quickly during heat waves, especially in cars, on hot pavement, or without shade and water.
Cars and pavement
Never leave pets in parked vehicles during warm weather. Interior temperatures rise fast.
Pavement can burn paws even when air temperature feels manageable.
Higher-risk pets
Flat-faced breeds, older pets, overweight pets, very young animals, and pets with heart or breathing issues are more vulnerable.
Outdoor pets need shade, water, and cooling access.
Warning signs
Heavy panting, weakness, drooling, confusion, vomiting, or collapse can signal heat stress.
Move the pet to cooling and contact a veterinarian for concerning symptoms.