Dogs and cats overheat faster than people because they release heat mainly by panting. On hot Surrey days, walk early or late, test pavement with the back of your hand, provide shade and fresh water, and never leave a pet in a parked car. Heavy panting, drooling, or wobbliness needs urgent veterinary attention.
When summer settles over Cedar Hills and the rest of North Surrey, our pets feel it long before we do. People cool off by sweating from head to toe; dogs and cats rely almost entirely on panting, plus a little heat loss through their paw pads. That narrow margin is why a warm afternoon that has you reaching for iced coffee can push a dog or cat toward real trouble, and why a few simple habits make such a difference between June and September.
Which Pets Struggle Most in the Heat
Every pet can overheat, but some start closer to the line. Flat-faced dogs such as Pugs, Bulldogs, and Shih Tzus, and flat-faced cats such as Persians, pant less efficiently. Senior pets, very young puppies and kittens, pets with heart or breathing conditions, and overweight pets all handle heat poorly. If your pet gained weight over the winter, summer is a strong reason to address it; our post on spring weight management for Surrey dogs and cats is a good place to start, and our pet care services team can build a plan at your next visit.
Hot Pavement and Sore Paws
Asphalt and concrete soak up heat all day and stay hot well into the evening, and along busy stretches like 96 Avenue there is not always a grassy detour. Before any walk, press the back of your hand to the pavement and hold it for several seconds. If it is uncomfortable for you, it can burn your dog’s pads. Walk early in the morning or after the sun drops, favour shaded routes and grass, and consider the cooler trails of a treed spot such as Green Timbers Urban Forest on the hottest days. Burned pads often show up as limping, licking at the feet, or reluctance to walk; our guide on why a dog may be limping covers when a sore step needs an exam.
Heatstroke: Warning Signs and First Steps
Heatstroke develops when a pet’s body gains heat faster than panting can shed it. Watch for heavy panting that will not settle, thick drool, very red gums, vomiting or diarrhea, staggering, collapse, or, in cats, any open-mouth breathing. If you see these signs, move your pet to shade or air conditioning, wet the coat with cool (not icy) water, especially the belly and paws, keep air moving with a fan or car air conditioning, and call a veterinary team immediately. Even a pet that seems to recover should be examined, because organ complications can appear hours later. Our emergency veterinary services page explains how we handle urgent cases, and calling ahead lets the team prepare for your arrival.
Parked Cars: There Is No Safe Quick Errand
On a warm day, the inside of a car can climb to dangerous temperatures within minutes, and cracked windows barely slow it down. Dogs have died during errands their owners genuinely believed would take five minutes. Through the summer, the kindest choice is usually to leave your dog at home in the cool rather than bring them along for the ride.
Should You Shave Your Dog for Summer? Grooming Myths
It feels intuitive that less fur means a cooler dog, but for double-coated breeds such as Huskies, German Shepherds, and Golden Retrievers, the coat is actually insulation that works in both directions, buffering heat as well as cold, and shaving it can interfere with how it regrows. What genuinely helps is removing the loose, packed undercoat so air can circulate against the skin. Regular brushing and professional de-shedding do far more good than a shave-down, and short-coated or matted pets benefit from tidy-ups and mat removal, since mats trap heat and moisture against the skin. Our grooming services team handles summer coats every day and can advise what suits your pet’s breed and coat type. Cats mostly manage their own coats, but seniors and long-haired cats often need help with brushing once the weather warms up.
Wildfire Smoke Days
Most Surrey summers now include at least a few smoky days. Smoke irritates airways in pets just as it does in people, and pets with asthma, heart disease, or flat faces feel it most. When air quality is poor, shorten walks to washroom breaks, skip fetch and daycare play, keep windows closed, and let your pet rest somewhere cool indoors. Coughing, wheezing, or laboured breathing after a smoky day deserves a call to the clinic.
A Simple Summer Checklist
- Walk early or late, and test pavement with the back of your hand
- Keep fresh water in several spots, indoors and out
- Provide real shade in the yard, not just a doghouse, which traps heat
- Never leave a pet in a parked vehicle, even briefly
- Brush out the undercoat rather than shaving double-coated breeds
- Ease off exercise on hot or smoky days
- Know the heatstroke signs and where you will go if they appear
Frequently Asked Questions
What temperature is too hot to walk my dog in Surrey?
There is no single cutoff, but by the mid-20s Celsius caution is already warranted, especially for flat-faced, senior, or overweight dogs. Humidity, pavement heat, and your dog’s fitness matter as much as the number, so shorten walks, seek shade and grass, and let your dog set the pace.
Do cats get heatstroke too?
Yes. Cats overheat less often than dogs because they rarely over-exert, but a cat shut in a garage, shed, sunroom, or car is at real risk. Check warm enclosed spaces before closing them up, and make sure your cat always has a cool room and fresh water to retreat to.
Is wetting my dog down actually helpful?
Yes, cool water on the coat, especially the belly, armpits, and paws, helps a warm dog shed heat, and a kiddie pool in the shade is a summer favourite. Use cool water rather than ice-cold, and pair it with rest, shade, and a breeze; if your dog seems wobbly or will not stop panting, treat it as urgent rather than continuing to cool at home.