How to Keep Your Dog Cool During a Heatwave

Author: Guillaume Hoarau
Written on 10 August 2026 at 18:45 · 2 min read

Dogs barely sweat: they cool down mainly by panting and through their paw pads, a system far less effective than human sweating during a heatwave. The essential habits and gear to help your dog get through summer safely, without the risk of heatstroke.

Dog lying on a cooling mat in the shade on a hot day

Why Do Dogs Struggle So Much in Hot Weather?

Unlike humans, dogs have very few functional sweat glands, concentrated in their paw pads. Their main way of regulating body temperature is panting, which evaporates water from the respiratory tract to release heat, a mechanism far less efficient than sweating over the entire skin surface.

The risk factor to know Brachycephalic breeds (bulldogs, pugs, boxers), older dogs, overweight dogs, or those with a heart or respiratory condition are especially vulnerable to heatstroke, even at temperatures most dogs tolerate without any trouble.

Everyday Essentials for Keeping Your Dog Cool

Fresh water at all times, in the shade. Several water points if your dog has access to a garden, topped up regularly to stay cool.
Walks during the cooler hours. Early morning or after sunset, avoiding the hottest part of the day entirely.
The pavement test. Press the back of your hand on the pavement or asphalt for five seconds: if it's too hot for you, it's too hot for their paw pads.
Never in a parked car, not even for a few minutes, not even with the windows cracked open: the temperature inside a car in the sun climbs extremely fast and can turn deadly in under 15 minutes.
A water mister on the coat (never sprayed directly on the muzzle) helps bring the temperature down through evaporation during a walk in the heat.

The Gear That Actually Helps Keep a Dog Cool

A cooling mat or bed filled with gel absorbs the dog's body heat on contact, with no water or electricity involved: the dog lies down on it and the cooling sensation lasts several hours, before the mat regenerates naturally once the dog moves off it. A cooling vest, soaked in cold water before use, keeps a dog cool for longer during a walk or physical activity, particularly useful for an active or sporty dog.

Pro tip Place the cooling mat exactly where your dog naturally chooses to lie down most often: most dogs pick the coolest surface available on their own, once they've discovered how good it feels.

Warning Signs of Heatstroke to Watch For

Veterinary emergency Panting that doesn't settle down at rest, gums that are very red or pale, thick saliva, wobbly movement or a loss of coordination are signs of heatstroke that call for immediate cooling (lukewarm water, never ice-cold, applied to the body) followed by veterinary advice without delay, even if the dog seems to be recovering.

Heatstroke in dogs can progress very quickly and can become life-threatening within a matter of minutes: it's always better to call a vet out of caution than to hesitate over ambiguous symptoms.

Products mentioned in this article

Hurtta Cooling Wrap

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Soaked in cold water and wrung out, the Hurtta Cooling Wrap keeps a dog's chest cool for hours through evaporation, no electricity or ice packs needed.

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