How to Keep Your Pets Safe in the Yard During Extreme Heat

Summer is a wonderful time to enjoy your backyard, but extreme heat can quickly become dangerous for pets. Dogs and cats can overheat, become dehydrated, and even burn their paws on hot outdoor surfaces.

A few simple updates can make your yard a safer place for your four-legged family members.

Create Plenty of Shade

Every pet needs a cool place to escape direct sunlight. Trees, covered patios, shade sails, and outdoor umbrellas can all provide relief.

Remember that shade moves throughout the day. Check your yard at different times to make sure a shaded area is always available. Even with shade, pets should remain indoors during the hottest parts of the day.

Provide Fresh, Cool Water

Keep multiple bowls of fresh water in shaded areas and refill them regularly. Use sturdy containers that cannot easily be tipped over, and avoid metal bowls that can become hot in direct sunlight.

Adding ice cubes can help keep the water cool, but it should not replace frequent water changes.

Check Surfaces Before Allowing Pets Outside

Concrete, asphalt, artificial turf, decks, and patio pavers can become dangerously hot. Before allowing your pet to walk across a surface, place the back of your hand on it. If it feels too hot for your hand, it is too hot for your pet’s paws.

Whenever possible, create a path using natural grass or another pet-safe surface that stays cooler.

Maintain Your Grass

Healthy grass is generally cooler and more comfortable for pets than concrete or artificial turf. Keep it trimmed, but avoid cutting it extremely short since longer grass can provide some insulation from hot soil.

Inspect the yard regularly for sharp sticks, burrs, exposed landscaping materials, and other objects that could injure sensitive paws.

Use Lawn Products Carefully

Fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, compost, mulch, and weed-control products can be harmful to pets. Store these products securely and follow all label instructions regarding how long pets should stay off treated areas.

The ASPCA recommends keeping fertilizers, compost, mulch, and lawn chemicals out of your pet’s reach.

Make Water Features Safe

A small pet pool can provide a fun way for some dogs to cool down, but it should always be used with supervision. Empty and clean it regularly to prevent bacteria and mosquitoes from becoming a problem.

If you have a swimming pool, make sure your pet knows how to exit safely. Consider installing a pet-friendly ramp and adding fencing to prevent unsupervised access.

Check Fences and Gates

Extreme heat can cause pets to become anxious or search for cooler places. Inspect your fence for loose boards, gaps, and areas where a pet could dig underneath. Make sure gates latch securely and that your pet’s identification tag and microchip information are current.

Adjust Outdoor Time

Schedule walks, playtime, and bathroom breaks for early morning or later in the evening. Keep outdoor visits brief during extreme heat, and never leave a pet outside unattended.

Older pets, overweight animals, flat-faced breeds, and pets with heart or breathing conditions may be especially vulnerable. The ASPCA advises keeping these pets in air-conditioned spaces as much as possible during hot weather.

Know the Signs of Overheating

Watch for excessive panting, heavy drooling, difficulty breathing, weakness, vomiting, confusion, seizures, or collapse. If you notice these symptoms, move your pet into a cool area and contact a veterinarian immediately.

The safest backyard is one that gives pets access to water, shade, cooler surfaces, and a quick path back indoors. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, pets should always have unlimited access to fresh water and shade when they are outside.

With a little preparation and close supervision, you can help your pets enjoy the yard safely while protecting them from the dangers of extreme summer heat.