It's probably no surprise to anyone that Australia is officially a nation of pet lovers. A survey released in 2025 showed that 73% of households across the country are home to at least one pet – and that dogs are the most popular choice.1
Once the warmer weather hits, you might be tempted to invite your four-legged family members to join you on more excursions, whether it’s spending an afternoon at a dog-friendly beach, enjoying a backyard BBQ at a neighbour’s place or heading off on a weekend road trip.
But even if you’re across the basic recommendations around how to keep your pet safe when temperatures rise, a landmark Australian study has shed new light on just how dangerous even mildly hot days can be – and suggests that some adventurous outings may be particularly risky.2
With forecasters predicting that the current El Niño climate cycle could deliver record-breaking heat, understanding these hidden threats to your pets is more important than ever.3
So, how hot is too hot for your pet during summer? What are some general – and more niche – pet safety concerns and precautions to be aware of? Do the warning signs of overheating differ between dogs and cats? Are certain breeds more at risk of heat-related illnesses? And which seemingly safe summer scenarios could catch even the most diligent pet owners out this season? We’ll answer all those questions to help keep your pets safe, cool and comfortable during this summer scorcher.
How hot is too hot for your pet?
The answer can depend on your pet’s breed and age,4 but according to University of New South Wales (UNSW) research, the risk of a dog dying increases by 1% for every degree over 25°C – and shoots up by nearly 10% when the mercury rises above 32°C.2
Just like humans,5 when exposed to heat, dogs can experience an elevation in body temperature called hyperthermia – including a specific type called heat stroke, which can be fatal.6
In dogs, hyperthermia is where core body temperature increases above its normal range of 39°C,6 and it can occur at temperatures that aren’t necessarily deemed “too hot” for us.7
Dr Mia Cobb, a research fellow at The University of Melbourne’s Animal Welfare Science Centre, says it comes down to how dogs expel heat from their bodies in comparison to how we do.
“People are really good at it,” says Mia. “We sweat over almost our whole body and as that sweat evaporates, it carries heat away. We can also take off layers of clothing, head inside to cooler spaces, and tell someone we feel unwell.
“Dogs can’t do most of that. Their sweat glands are mainly in their paw pads and do very little cooling.”
Instead, she explains, dogs’ main cooling strategy is panting, which evaporates moisture from the tongue, mouth and airways.
“It works well at moderate temperatures,” she adds, “but they have a much smaller surface area to work with than our skin.
“Dogs also wear a fur coat they can’t remove; are physically closer to hot surfaces like concrete, footpaths and sand; and many will keep running and playing well past the point where they should stop to avoid overheating.”
Does high humidity add to the danger?
Yes. “Panting only works if the moisture can evaporate,” says Mia.
“When the air is already full of water vapour, evaporation slows right down. So, a dog can pant hard and get very little cooling benefit if it’s a humid day.”
Panting is also physical work, she explains. “The muscles involved generate heat, so a dog panting ineffectively on a humid day can end up in a losing cycle. This is especially risky for flat-faced breeds like pugs and French bulldogs, whose narrowed airways already make breathing harder.”
Mia says cats face a similar problem. “Their main cooling strategy is spreading saliva on their fur by grooming, which also depends on evaporation to be effective.
“This is why a muggy 27°C morning may be more dangerous than a dry 30°C afternoon.”
Summer activities that are riskier for your pets than you might think
“In the UNSW study, dog deaths on public holidays rose 155% and Sundays saw mortality risk nearly double compared with other days of the week,” says Mia.2
“The researchers don’t know why exactly, but they speculated people are more likely to take their dogs out on those days, many of which occur at some of the hottest times of the year.”
Mia has identified three scenarios to be aware of this summer.
BBQs and busy social days
“At a backyard barbecue, everyone assumes that someone else is watching the dog,” says Mia. “And the patch of shade you tied them up in at 11am may be in full sun by 1pm.”
If you do want your dog to accompany you to an outdoor event when the weather’s warmer, make sure you:
- Fill bowls of water and place them in shady areas8
- Provide access to water for your dog to cool off in, such as a paddling pool9
- Make sure your dog always has ample shade, remembering to account for the shifting sun.9
A trip to the beach
“The sea isn’t a cooling station if your dog is already exhausted from running on hot sand,” says Mia, who also points out that seawater isn’t drinking water and that there’s often little shade at the beach.
If you are considering a beach outing for your pooch, Mia recommends taking a shade shelter and fresh water for them to drink. “And plan to go early or late. Alternatively, leave your dog at home with access to cool areas, plenty of fresh water and shade.”
A game of fetch
Mia explains that while hot cars often get the most attention for causing heat-related illnesses in dogs, exercising in hot temperatures can actually be a bigger culprit.
“A ball-obsessed dog often won’t stop on its own, so the decision to stop or to do the activity in the coolest part of the morning, or later in the evening, sits with us.”
What you can do to help keep dogs and cats safe in hot weather
In addition to being mindful of the tips and suggestions mentioned above about specific scenarios, there are a number of other things you can do to help your pets stay cool and prevent heat-related illness when the temperature starts to soar.
Never leave pets in the car
Car temperatures can rise quickly, even if you park in the shade and leave the windows open slightly. For example, when the outside temperature is a relatively mild 23°C, the temperature inside a car can rise to 39°C in just 25 minutes.10
This means dogs left in a locked car can quickly find themselves in a life-threatening situation.10 In fact, according to the RSPCA, it can take fewer than six minutes for a dog to die in a hot vehicle.11
Create a range of cool zones
Mia says making sure animals have a number of cool, shady places to choose from can help reduce the risk of heat stress.
“An animal is the best judge of where it might feel comfortable and being able to freely move between warm and cool spots is their first line of defence against heat,” she says.
“However, what we think is cool isn’t always what they find cool – the shade moves, a fan may be too noisy for a nervous cat, and new decking or artificial turf can be much hotter than it looks. Plus, a young, lean kelpie and an elderly, overweight Persian cat might experience the same room very differently.
“So, offering several options means that if one doesn’t suit, there’s another available for them.”
Choose temperature-appropriate activities
Mia suggests finding cool, low-activity ways to keep your dog occupied instead of going for a walk.
“Skipping a walk on a very hot day won’t harm your dog,” she says. “A calm day inside is far better than a risky walk, and mental work can be surprisingly satisfying for dogs.”
Mia says there are plenty of simple options that can work well, such as:
- Freezing some of their regular food, softened kibble or some plain yoghurt into old yoghurt or butter containers and giving them a frozen block to lick.
- Scattering part of a meal in a snuffle mat, an empty cardboard egg carton or across an old towel before twisting it, so they have to sniff out the food.
- Practising quiet skills such as “settle on your mat”, a chin rest or waiting politely for a treat.
- Playing a few interactive games, such as retrieve, if you have air conditioning inside – keeping the games short and gentle, and stopping if your dog starts panting heavily.
“You could also use hot days to teach them something that might help them,” says Mia. “US researchers found that training dogs to voluntarily dunk their heads in water was the most effective method for rapidly cooling them down after exercise.12
“You can start by dropping a treat or toy into a shallow tub of cool water and letting them fish it out.”
Check the pavement temperature
If you are going to take your dog for a walk, as well as avoiding the midday heat,13 bear in mind that higher temperatures can make asphalt too hot for their paws. For example, when the air temperature is 25°C, asphalt can reach 52°C.14
A good rule to bear in mind is that if the back of your hand can’t stand the heat on the asphalt for seven seconds, it’s too hot for your dog to walk on.13
Be mindful of pets shut indoors
While Mia says that bringing pets inside is ideal as temperatures rise, there are things to be mindful of too – particularly for cats.
“Cats tend to get into trouble through where they are when it’s hot, not what they’re doing,” she notes.
“In UK (veterinary) surveillance data, environmental heat-related illness accounted for all heat-related illness events in cats15 – think of a cat shut in a hot room, or sunbaking in a closed-up house while everyone’s at work.”
Mia recommends providing pets with access to indoor areas that are away from direct sunlight and where plenty of fresh drinking water is available and fans or air conditioning is switched on.
What are the warning signs of overheating in dogs?
There are three different stages of hyperthermia that dogs can experience.6 They vary in severity, can cause slightly different symptoms6 and can quickly progress from one to another.14
- Heat stress – the dog is typically mentally aware and able to move around, but may experience increased thirst and panting.6
- Heat exhaustion – this is a more severe form of heat stress that can cause a significant increase in thirst, general weakness and heavy panting. Dogs with heat exhaustion are usually mentally aware but may be too weak or tired to react or move around.6
- Heat stroke – this is the most severe type of hyperthermia and can be fatal. Early symptoms of canine heat stroke include:6
- High body temperature
- Restlessness or agitation
- Excessive panting or difficulty breathing
- Drooling, often with very thick saliva
- A change in gum colour to dark red, pale, purple or blue.
As the condition worsens, dogs with heat stroke can experience:
- Vomiting or diarrhoea
- Increased heart rate
- Lethargy or collapse
- Dizziness
- Muscle tremors
- Seizures
- Unconsciousness.6
Can cats get heat stroke?
Yes – while not as common as heat stroke in dogs, cats can develop heat stroke.6
Mia says that many of the warning signs – such as lethargy, drooling, vomiting, wobbliness, bright red gums and collapse – apply to both cats and dogs, but the big difference is panting.
“For dogs, panting is normal, so owners need to watch for changes: heavy panting at rest, panting that doesn’t settle after a few minutes in the shade, thick drool, or a dog that won’t lie down or seems distressed,” she explains.
“For cats, any open-mouth breathing in hot weather is a red flag. Cats don’t use panting as a normal cooling strategy, so by the time a cat is panting, its other cooling methods are already failing.
“Cats are also good at hiding discomfort. Earlier, subtler signs include restlessness or searching for cool surfaces like sinks and tiles, heavy grooming, damp paw prints, and hiding or withdrawing.”
Are certain breeds of dogs and cats more at risk of heat-related illnesses?
Yes. According to the UNSW research team, dog breeds that are at an increased risk of heat-related illnesses include Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Border Collies and Staffordshire Bull Terriers.2
Dogs and cats that have a short muzzle, such as pugs, French bulldogs and Persian cats, may also have a higher likelihood of experiencing discomfort on hot days.16
Very young or senior dogs and cats, as well as pets with underlying heart or respiratory problems, overweight pets or those taking certain medications, may also be more at risk due to being less tolerant of heat or unable to regulate their body temperature as efficiently as other animals.12,17
What should you do if you think your pet has a heat-related illness?
If you think your dog is experiencing mild heat stress, emergency and urgent care provider Animal Emergency Service advises:6
- Stopping all physical activities
- Moving him or her to a shaded spot or air-conditioned room
- Offering fresh, cool water.6
If symptoms get worse or you suspect heat stroke is developing – remembering that the progression from heat stress to heat stroke can be rapid14 – it’s important to take immediate action by getting your pet to a vet.6
“For either species (dogs and cats), start cooling straight away with cool – not iced – water and good airflow, and then call your vet while you’re on the way to the clinic,” says Mia.
“Researchers working on canine heat illness summarise this approach as cool first, transport second.”
For more expert tips to help you plan for severe weather, including how to protect your pets from bushfire and how to include them in your severe weather emergency plan, visit our you.prepared emergency content hub.
The content in this article has been prepared based on current government and emergency services guidelines and expert advice provided at the time of publishing. This information is subject to change. Please be sure to check for the latest information and always consider your personal circumstances regarding home safety preparedness and response.
1. Source: Animal Medicines Australia – Australia’s most comprehensive pet survey shows nearly three quarters of Australian homes now have a pet, September 2025
2. Source: UNSW Sydney – Extreme heat linked to increased dog deaths, July 2025
3. Source: Climate Council – Climate pollution and El Niño, September 2026
4. Source: Animal Welfare Victoria – Heat and pets, July 2026
5. Source: Healthdirect – Heatstroke, July 2024
6. Source: Animal Emergency Service – Heat Stroke in Dogs (what you need to know), April 2026
7. Source: ABC News – How to avoid heatstroke and when to call Triple Zero in a heatwave, January 2026
8. Source: Animal Emergency Service – How to Keep Dogs Cool in Summer (our top tips), April 2026
9. Source: PETA Australia – How to Keep Dogs Cool in the Summer Heat, n.d.
10. Source: Four Paws – Could Your Car Become a Heat Trap?, January 2026
11. Source: RSPCA Tasmania – Dogs can die in just six minutes, December 2021
12. Source: Penn Today – Reducing a dog’s temperature after exercise with voluntary head dunking, September 2024
13. Source: RSPCA NSW – Heat Stress, n.d.
14. Source: Four Paws – Keep Your Pets Safe During Extreme Heat, January 2026
15. Source: National Library of Medicine – Surveillance of heat-related illness in small animals presenting to veterinary practices in the UK between 2013 and 2018, January 2022
16. Source: The University of Melbourne – Pets suffer in extreme heat. An animal welfare expert explains how we can help them, January 2026
17. Source: RSPCA – How can I protect my dog from heatstroke?, May 2023
