The South Bay's warm-season temperatures can be more intense than people expect — especially inland, where afternoon highs regularly hit the 90s from June through September. For our pets, who can't sweat the way we do and who rely on us to manage their environment, heat is a genuine safety concern.
Here's what we keep in mind during every summer walk and visit, and what you can do to keep your pet comfortable and safe.
Know the Signs of Heatstroke
Heatstroke is a medical emergency. Symptoms include excessive panting, drooling, lethargy, vomiting, uncoordinated movement, and collapse. Brachycephalic breeds (bulldogs, pugs, Persian cats) are at higher risk.
If you suspect heatstroke, move your pet to shade or air conditioning immediately, apply cool (not cold) water to their body, and call your vet or an emergency animal hospital right away.
Essential Summer Safety Tips
Test the Pavement
Place the back of your hand on the asphalt for 7 seconds. If it's too hot for your hand, it's too hot for paw pads. Walk on grass or shaded paths, or shift walks to early morning and evening hours.
Always Carry Water
Bring a collapsible bowl and fresh water on every walk, even short ones. Offer water every 10–15 minutes during exercise. Dogs who are panting hard are already getting dehydrated.
Adjust Walk Times
In summer, we shift all walks to before 9 AM or after 6 PM. The temperature difference between noon and 7 PM can be 20 degrees — and the pavement temperature difference is even greater.
Never Leave Pets in Cars
Even with windows cracked, a car's interior temperature can rise 20 degrees in just 10 minutes. On an 85-degree day, the inside of a car can reach 120 degrees within 30 minutes. There is no safe amount of time to leave a pet in a parked car.
Provide Indoor Cooling
Make sure your pet has access to air conditioning or at least fans and shade. Tile and hardwood floors stay cooler than carpet. A damp towel laid flat can give your pet a cool spot to lie on.
Watch for Sunburn
Dogs with thin or light-colored fur — especially on their ears, nose, and belly — can get sunburned. Pet-safe sunscreen exists and should be applied to exposed areas before outdoor time. Cats who like to sunbathe in windows can also burn through glass.
Cats and Heat
Cats are often overlooked in summer heat discussions because they spend most of their time indoors. But cats can overheat too, especially in homes without air conditioning. Signs of heat distress in cats include open-mouth breathing (cats normally breathe through their nose), excessive grooming as a cooling mechanism, lethargy, and restlessness.
Keep fresh water available in multiple locations. Consider adding ice cubes to their water bowl — some cats enjoy batting them around, which encourages them to drink. If your home gets warm during the day, close blinds to block direct sun and run fans to circulate air. Heat distress and anxiety can look alike in cats — here's how to tell when your cat is stressed.
Frozen Treats and Enrichment
One of the easiest ways to help your dog cool down is with frozen treats. Fill a Kong with peanut butter and freeze it overnight. Blend watermelon (seedless) with a splash of water and freeze in ice cube trays. Or simply offer ice cubes as a crunchy, hydrating snack. These also provide mental enrichment, which is a bonus on days when walks need to be shorter due to heat.
Our Summer Protocol
At Pawsides, we take heat safety seriously. During summer months, we bring water and a collapsible bowl to every visit. We test pavement temperature before every walk. We adjust walk duration and routes to prioritize shade. And if it's simply too hot, we'll do indoor play and enrichment instead of a walk — because keeping your pet safe always comes first. That's standard on every walk we take, June through September.
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