How to Keep Your Pets Safe in Hot Weather
The core rule for hot weather is simple. Never let a pet get stuck somewhere it cannot cool down. That means shade and fresh water at all times, no time spent in a parked car, conservatory or caravan, and knowing the early signs of heatstroke, whether you keep a dog, a cat, or rabbits and guinea pigs in an outdoor hutch.
Why cars, conservatories and caravans catch owners out
Most owners already know not to leave a dog in a car on a warm day. Fewer realise a conservatory, a caravan, or even a glass-heavy porch heats up almost as fast, for the same reason a car does: sunlight gets in through glass, warmed air can’t get back out, and the temperature climbs quickly even on a day that feels only mildly warm outside.
Many people think it's ok to leave their dog in the car if they're parked in the shade or the windows are open. But a car can become as hot as an oven, even when the weather doesn't feel that warm. When it's 22 degrees Celsius outside, the car could reach an unbearable 47 degrees within an hour. It's very dangerous and will cause your dog suffering and harm.
The RSPCA’s guidance on hot weather and walking dogs makes the same point: the risk isn’t limited to the days that feel obviously scorching.
Keeping rabbits and guinea pigs cool
Rabbits and guinea pigs can’t move themselves out of the sun the way a cat can, so it falls to their owner to manage the space around them. The Rabbit Welfare Association (RWAF) recommends moving hutches into shade for the whole day, not just where it happens to be shady first thing, since the sun moves through the afternoon.
A solid roof and a shaded, ventilated run shade (or the guinea pig equivalent) stop direct sun reaching the hutch through the middle of the day. Water needs checking and topping up at least twice daily in hot spells, since a bottle left in the sun warms up fast and pets drink less of it as a result. A ceramic tile or a frozen water bottle wrapped in a towel gives rabbits and guinea pigs something cool to lie against. Check under the tail twice a day too; fly strike develops fastest in warm, humid weather and catching it early makes a real difference.
Signs of heat stress in rabbits and guinea pigs include lethargy, drooling, laboured or rapid breathing, and reddened ears. Any of these on a hot day is a reason to act immediately, not to wait and see.
Keeping cats and dogs cool
Put out water in more than one bowl, and add ice cubes on the hottest days so it stays cold for longer. Give cats and dogs a shaded spot outside they can retreat to, and keep dog walks to the cool of the morning or evening; the RSPCA is blunt about this, pavements that feel warm to a bare hand can burn a dog’s paws. Pet-safe sun cream on exposed pink skin (nose, ear tips) and a trim for heavy winter coats both help too.
Recognising and treating heatstroke
Panting that won’t settle, heavy drooling, visible distress, dark red gums and a racing heartbeat are the signs to watch for in cats and dogs. If you see them, the sequence is the same whatever the species:
1. Move the pet to shade or a cool room straight away.
2. Offer small amounts of cool, not ice-cold, water.
3. Wet the coat or skin with cool water, focusing on the head, neck and paws, and get air moving with a fan or an open window.
4. Call the vet immediately, even if the pet seems to be recovering. Both the RSPCA and PDSA are clear that heatstroke can cause internal damage that isn’t obvious from the outside.
Take it further
For dogs, cats and rabbits alike, a cooling mat or cooling bed gives them somewhere to lie that’s always a few degrees cooler than the room or the hutch. Scratch and Newton’s guide to choosing the best cooling mat for your pet covers which type suits which pet.
Updated 2026
