Dogs face significant heat-related welfare risks during hot weather. Understanding the risks and preventive measures protects dog welfare during summer.
Heat-related illness in dogs causes significant suffering — from distress and panting to the organ failure and death of severe heatstroke. The welfare imperative during hot weather is multiple: providing constant access to fresh cool water, avoiding exercise during the hottest parts of the day, never confining dogs in hot enclosed spaces, and monitoring at-risk dogs closely for signs of heat distress. Brachycephalic breeds have additional vulnerability from their compromised airways, which reduce panting efficiency. Public education about hot car dangers has improved but heatstroke from exercise and inadequate water access remains prevalent.