Walking your dog in hot weather

This guide is general information, gathered from the veterinary sources listed at the end. It is not a diagnosis or a substitute for your vet. If your pet is unwell, or you're worried, call your vet.

Heat is a walking problem, not just a car problem

Most heatstroke in dogs starts with exercise. In a Nottingham Trent University and Royal Veterinary College (RVC) study of UK dogs, exercise triggered about three-quarters (74%) of heatstroke cases¹. Most of those (68%) happened after nothing more than a walk in the heat¹. The RSPCA says dogs are ten times more likely to suffer heat-related illness from exercising in hot weather than from overheating in cars². And it doesn't have to feel scorching: the RVC notes that exercising in warm weather, or being in a warm, humid, poorly ventilated place, can be enough³.

Test the pavement before you go

Press the back of your hand flat on the pavement. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and the UK emergency vets Vets Now both suggest holding it there for seven seconds; if you can't, it's too hot for paws^{4, 5}. The American Kennel Club's chief veterinarian, Dr Jerry Klein, suggests a longer ten-second hold, so if you're unsure, use the longer test⁶. The ground gets far hotter than the air: Vets Now reports asphalt reaching 52°C on a 25°C day⁵, and AAHA gives about 57°C (135°F) for asphalt on a sunny 30°C (86°F) day⁴. Pavements also hold heat long after the air has cooled down⁵. Grass and dirt paths are generally cooler than concrete and asphalt, while sand, metal and artificial turf can all become dangerously hot in direct sun⁴. Signs of burnt pads include limping, licking or chewing the paws, pads that look darker or redder than usual, and blisters⁴. If you think your dog has burnt their paws, contact your vet⁵.

Walk at the coolest times of day

Walk early in the morning or later in the evening, and avoid the hottest part of the day³. AAHA recommends early mornings and late evenings because surfaces are not as hot then⁴. In a heatwave, vet and heatstroke researcher Emily Hall suggests you consider skipping walks altogether¹.

Dogs who need extra care

Some dogs overheat more easily than others. The RVC lists these as more susceptible³:

• overweight dogs
• flat-faced breeds such as Pugs and French Bulldogs
• dogs with thick coats
• very young and older dogs
• dogs with airway, lung or heart problems

The RSPCA adds that puppies and senior dogs aren't as able to regulate their temperature⁷. A VetCompass study of more than 900,000 UK dogs found higher risk in three groups: flat-faced (brachycephalic) dogs, dogs over 50 kg, and dogs heavier than average for their breed and sex⁸. Chow Chows, Bulldogs and French Bulldogs were among the highest-risk breeds⁸. The RSPCA also warns that at-risk dogs can struggle even in fairly cool spring weather after a cold winter².

Water and shade

Make sure your dog always has a cool, shaded spot and fresh drinking water, indoors and out³. Pack water for walks³, and offer small amounts every 15–20 minutes². Don't let your dog drink while panting heavily, as the RSPCA says this can cause bloating and vomiting².

Signs of heatstroke: early and emergency

Early signs³:

• heavy panting that can become noisy or distressed
• restlessness
• drooling
• red gums or tongue
• a fast heart rate
• vomiting or diarrhoea

Advanced signs³:

• lethargy
• confusion
• weakness or collapse
• seizures

Dr Dan O'Neill, an RVC epidemiologist, gives a clear rule for walks. If your dog pants excessively, struggles to breathe, or becomes unwilling or unable to carry on, stop the exercise, find shade, cool them with water and get veterinary advice⁹. Acting early matters: in RVC research, 97% of dogs with mild heat-related illness survived, compared with 43% of dogs with severe heatstroke⁹.

If you suspect heatstroke: cool first, transport second

Current veterinary advice is "cool first, transport second": start cooling your dog where you are, then go to the vet^{9, 7}.

1. Stop. End the exercise and move your dog into shade or out of the heat⁷.
2. Cool. Pour any water that is cooler than your dog over their body^{7, 9}.
   • Focus on the neck, belly and thighs, and avoid the head⁷.
   • For young, healthy dogs, cold-water immersion (such as a paddling pool) is effective⁹.
   • For older dogs, dogs with health problems or an unconscious dog, don't immerse them. Pour or spray water over them instead and keep air moving with a fan or a breeze^{7, 9}.
3. Don't cover them with wet towels. A towel laid over the body can trap heat⁷. The RVC found wet towels far less effective than immersion or evaporative cooling⁹.
4. Transport. Once you've started cooling, drive to the vet in a cool, well-ventilated car and phone ahead⁷. Even if your dog seems fine, get them checked, because serious effects may not show straight away³.

Should the water be tepid or cold? The RVC says the old advice to use only "tepid" water has no substantial evidence behind it⁹. The RSPCA says cold water rarely causes shock in an overheating dog⁷. The RVC's own first-aid page still advises against ice-cold water when hosing, because it can reduce blood flow to the skin³. So cold water, not ice, is the cautious middle ground^{3, 7}.

Never leave a dog in a parked car

A parked car heats up fast: the RSPCA says that when it's 22°C outside, a car can reach 47°C within an hour¹⁰. The AVMA cites research showing the temperature inside can rise by almost 11°C (20°F) in just 10 minutes, and says cracking the windows makes no difference¹¹. In the UK, if you see a dog in a hot car showing signs of heatstroke, the RSPCA says to dial 999¹⁰.

Frequently asked questions

How Zo helps

Zo's free Safety Dashboard reads the live temperature, humidity and UV where you are, and shows a Low, Moderate or High risk for heat and UV, plus the best and worst hours to walk, hot pavement included, so you can check before you head out. It works from the weather alone. Zo Pro adds advice tailored to your dog's breed, coat and size. On a hot day, Zo's Daily Routine tells you to skip the midday walk and wait for the cooler part of the day. Zo gives general well-being guidance, not a diagnosis. If you're worried, call your vet.

Zo on the App Store · Zo on Google Play

Sources

1. Excessive exercise responsible for three-quarters of heatstroke cases in dogs, study shows. Royal Veterinary College (VetCompass news), with Nottingham Trent University · Emily Hall, a vet and researcher at NTU; Dr Dan O'Neill, RVC · 17 Aug 2020.
2. Stop dogs dying on hot walks. RSPCA (UK).
3. Heatstroke in dogs and cats: prevention, symptoms and first aid tips for pet owners (Fact File). Royal Veterinary College, Small Animal Hospital.
4. How to Protect Your Dog's Paws from Hot Pavement. American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA).
5. Hot pavements and artificial grass: The hidden risk to your dog's paws. Vets Now (UK emergency veterinary hospital group). (checked via a web archive copy, September 2026)
6. How to Protect Dog Paws From Hot Pavement, Sidewalks. American Kennel Club · Dr Jerry Klein, DVM, AKC Chief Veterinarian · updated 30 Mar 2026.
7. Heatstroke in dogs. RSPCA (UK) · Lauren Bennett, RSPCA dog welfare expert.
8. Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016. Emily J Hall, Anne J Carter (Nottingham Trent University) and Dan G O'Neill (RVC).
9. The RVC urges owners of hot dogs to "cool first, transport second". Royal Veterinary College (VetCompass) · Emily Hall (RVC); Dr Dan O'Neill, Associate Professor, RVC · 20 Jul 2023.
10. Dogs Die In Hot Cars. RSPCA (UK).
11. Pet safety in vehicles. American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). (checked via a web archive copy, September 2026)

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