From Mayhew to you:
keeping your pets cool and safe this summer

Hot weather hits animals harder than it hits us. They can’t reach for a cold drink, open a window, or decide today’s a big-hat day. That’s down to us.

Here’s what actually helps dogs and cats, plus the one thing everyone still gets wrong.

Keeping dogs cool

Water and shade come first. Keep a bowl topped up, and give them somewhere shaded to retreat to whenever they want it.

Skip exercise in the middle of the day. Early morning or evening walks are cooler for you and kinder on their paws – tarmac and even sand can burn far quicker than you’d expect.

The five-second test: press the back of your hand to the pavement. If you can’t hold it there for five seconds, it’s too hot for paws.

If your dog’s struggling with the heat, cool (not ice-cold) water on the paws, belly and groin helps most, that’s where blood vessels sit closest to the surface. A fan nearby helps too, as moving air cools faster than still air.

Extras dogs enjoy: frozen veg like carrot, a homemade frozen treat, or a cooling mat. One thing worth knowing about cooling mats: only ever under supervision. Left alone with one, a dog can chew through it, and the liquid inside isn’t safe to swallow.

Keeping cats cool

Cats are generally better at this than we are. Left to their own devices, they’ll find the coolest tiled floor in the house and do a lot less than usual until it passes.

Your job is to make that easy: fresh water in more than one bowl (cats often drink more when there’s a choice of where), good airflow, and a few cool, shaded spots to choose from. Keeping curtains closed during the hottest part of the day stops rooms heating up in the first place.

Cooling mats are hit and miss with cats. Some like them, most will simply ignore it in favour of the bathroom floor.

If a cat seems too warm, gently wet the paws, ears and coat with cool (not ice-cold) water. Never force it if it’s causing them more stress than the heat was.

Extras cats enjoy: a splash of water stirred into wet food, frozen lick-e-lix, tuna water made with spring water (never the brine, it’s too salty), or a frozen water bottle set in front of a fan.

The towel myth

Damp towels warm up fast against fur. Once they do, they trap heat against the body instead of letting it escape, whether it’s draped over a dog or a cat.

Skip draping it over them. Lay it flat instead, as a cool surface to lie on, and make sure you re-wet it regularly. That’s the version that actually helps.

Spotting heatstroke

Watch for heavy panting, glazed eyes, a racing heartbeat, drooling, wobbling, or a pet that seems unusually tired or disorientated. In hot weather, any of these deserve fast attention.

If you see it: move them to shade straight away, offer small amounts of room-temperature water (not ice-cold, that can send them into shock), and cool the paws, belly and groin with cool water. Then call your vet, even if they seem to be recovering.

If your dog or cat has collapsed, call a vet immediately. Don’t wait to see if it passes.

Two more that matter

Cars: temperatures inside a parked car climb within minutes, even on a mild, cloudy day. Never leave a dog in a car, a caravan, or a conservatory. If you see a dog in distress in a car, call 999.

Sun and BBQs: pets with short, white or pale coats can burn just like we do, pet-safe sun cream helps if they’re out in it. And BBQ season means fatty leftovers finding their way to paws that shouldn’t have them… keep the scraps out of reach!

If you’re ever unsure, call your vet. It’s always better to check.