Calhoun County, AL – As temperatures continue to climb across Alabama, pet experts are reminding owners that summer heat can become life-threatening for dogs much faster than many people realize.
The Calhoun Journal recently spoke with Nicole Ellis, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer and Pet Lifestyle Expert with Rover, about the most common warm-weather dangers facing pets and the simple steps owners can take to keep them safe.
According to Ellis, heat-related illness is her biggest concern each summer because many pet owners fail to recognize the early warning signs.
“Every summer we see dogs overheat during walks, hikes, trips to the beach, or even while simply relaxing in a backyard without enough shade or ventilation,” Ellis said.
She also pointed to other seasonal hazards, including hot pavement, dehydration, pets left in vehicles, water safety around pools and lakes, unsafe foods at barbecues, and foxtails or seasonal grasses that can become lodged in a pet’s ears, nose, paws, or eyes.
“Many of these emergencies are completely preventable with a little planning and knowing the signs,” she said.
Ellis encourages owners to watch for early symptoms of heat exhaustion, including excessive panting, slowing down during walks, seeking shade, excessive drooling, bright red gums, glazed eyes, weakness, or refusing to continue walking.
As a pet’s condition worsens, symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhea, disorientation, stumbling, collapse, or seizures.
“Don’t wait for your dog to collapse before taking action,” Ellis said. “If they’re showing early signs, stop the activity immediately and begin cooling them down.”
If a pet appears overheated, Ellis recommends moving the animal to a cool, shaded, or air-conditioned area, offering small amounts of cool—not ice-cold—water, and applying cool water to the paws, belly, and body while using fans to increase cooling.
She also advises contacting a veterinarian even if the pet appears to recover.
“Heat-related illness can continue to progress internally even after they seem better, and heat-related illnesses can turn fatal and should be taken seriously,” Ellis said.
She stressed that immediate emergency veterinary care is needed if a pet collapses, has repeated vomiting, struggles to breathe, becomes disoriented, cannot stand, experiences seizures, or becomes unresponsive.
“Heatstroke can damage multiple organs very quickly, and every minute matters,” Ellis said. “I never recommend a ‘wait and see’ approach once symptoms develop.”
To safely exercise dogs during Alabama’s hottest months, Ellis recommends walking early in the morning or later in the evening when temperatures and pavement are cooler.
She advises avoiding hikes during hot weather, bringing water on walks, choosing grassy or shaded routes, allowing frequent rest and sniff breaks, and considering indoor activities such as food puzzles, scent games, or short training sessions when outdoor temperatures become unsafe.
For owners unsure whether pavement is safe, Ellis recommends the “seven-second hand test.”
“Place the back of your hand on the pavement for about seven seconds,” she said. “If it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws.”
She added that grass, dirt trails, and shaded paths are generally safer than asphalt or concrete.
Ellis noted that some pets face a greater risk of heat-related illness, including brachycephalic breeds such as Bulldogs, Pugs, French Bulldogs, and Boston Terriers, whose shortened airways make cooling through panting more difficult.
Senior pets, puppies, overweight animals, dogs with heart or respiratory disease, and pets with thick double coats also require additional caution.
“Heat exhaustion doesn’t discriminate and can happen to any breed,” Ellis said.
To help pets stay cool, Ellis recommends providing multiple water stations, shade, fans, access to air conditioning, cooling mats or cooling vests when appropriate, frozen enrichment toys or treats, and kiddie pools for dogs that enjoy water.
However, she cautioned that cooling products should supplement—not replace—common sense.
“They’re tools to help manage heat—not a way to safely exercise a dog in dangerous temperatures,” Ellis said.
Her biggest piece of advice is to pay attention to what pets are communicating.
“to your dog instead of the calendar or your fitness plan and look for the tiny signs of change,” Ellis said. “I’d much rather see someone cut a walk short than risk a preventable heat emergency.”
