4 June 2025
Summer Safety Tips for Pets
The sun is out, temperatures are rising, and the English summer is well on its way. While we’re all excited for the adventures we can go on with furry friends, it’s important to know that when the seasons change, so do potential dangers to pets.
In this guide, we take a look at some of the most common summer dangers for pets and advise on how you can keep your pet safe this summer.
Hot Weather Safety
English summers aren’t what they used to be. Now, UK heatwaves pose a real threat to pets, with a study from the Royal Veterinary College revealing that the number of heatstroke cases vets have dealt with in previous years has increased fivefold. Sadly, this study also showed that 1 in 10 heatstroke cases involved dogs being left in hot cars, and a further 38% of heatstroke cases resulted from exercising in hot weather.
Heatstroke poses a real threat to dogs and cats who don’t have the same sweating capabilities as humans to keep themselves cool, which is why these hot weather safety tips for pets are more crucial than ever.
Heatstroke in Pets
Heatstroke is a potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when your pet’s internal body temperature reaches dangerous levels, and the animal is unable to cool down. Imagine wearing a ridiculously thick winter coat on the hottest day of the year but not being able to take that coat off to cool down. That’s what heatstroke in pets is like.
Cases of heatstroke vary in severity, with some pets showing mild symptoms like panting, lethargy and difficulty breathing, with moderate and severe cases potentially causing vomiting and diarrhoea, foaming at the mouth, weakness, confusion, seizures and even death.
How to Keep Dogs Cool
- Only walk your dog during cooler periods: Most dogs can’t bear temperatures higher than 25 degrees, and exercising in temperatures higher than this can be extremely dangerous, especially if you let your dog run off-lead. Aim to walk your dog in cooler periods, with early morning and late evening being the safest.
- Provide plenty of water and shade: Always ensure fresh, cool water is available for your dog and shady spots where they can lie out of the direct sun.
Why not try a cooling dog water bowl that you freeze before filling with water to keep them cool? If you are taking your dog out, bring plenty of water in a dog travel bottle so they can have a drink on the go. - Let your dog get wet: Provide a paddling pool or dog splash mat to play in, or gently splash cool water on their coat. This will have a cooling effect as the water evaporates, much like how humans sweat.
- Minimise car travel: Even if the external temperature is bearable for your dog, temperatures inside cars can reach as high as 47°C within an hour. If you need to travel, take precautions to keep the inside of your car cool, such as using air conditioning or a pet cooling mat.
- Groom your dog: Take your dog to the groomer regularly in the summer or do some DIY dog grooming at home to keep their coats shorter and thinner.
How to Keep Cats Cool
- Provide plenty of fresh water: A cat water fountain can help entice cats to drink since they instinctively prefer running water, or try having multiple bowls of water available inside and outside. You can even introduce hydration supplements like Purina® Pro Plan® Hydra Care® to increase your cat’s liquid intake and promote hydration.
- Offer plenty of shade: Ensure your cat has access to plenty of shady spots inside and outside the home so they can lie down safely on hot days.
Also, during hot weather, ensure your cat isn’t lying in heat-trap spaces like conservatories, outhouses, sheds, or greenhouses, as they can become very hot very fast. - Try ice cubes as toys: Put an ice cube or two on a hard floor, and as it melts, it will slide easily, enticing your cat's hunting instincts to bat and play.
Cats gain and lose heat through their paw pads, and since cats play with their paws, they’ll be in constant contact with the cold ice. - Groom your cat: Regularly brushing your cat and removing dead hair can help them feel much more comfortable. You can even help your cat by gently stroking them with a wet tea towel and depositing water over their coat, which has a cooling effect like when humans sweat.
- Keep them inside: Keep your cat inside during the hottest periods and let them out when it’s cooler, such as early morning or evening. If your cat likes being outdoors, this could be a challenge, but by playing with your cat and offering enrichment and games, you can distract them from not being out.
Summer Parasite Safety
We all know pesky parasites are a problem for pets year-round, but those little biting insects really get into the groove in the summertime.
Ticks are particularly prevalent in the summer as they are the most active. Ticks particularly like to live in woodlands, moorlands, and other grassy areas. While they can’t jump like fleas onto your pet, they can drop off surrounding foliage onto your pet’s coat before burrowing down to the skin to begin feeding.
Here are our top tips for parasite safety this summer:
Fleas & Ticks
Always ensure you are up to date with your pet’s routine flea and tick treatments to kill any biting parasites that land on them. This is the best way to prevent your pet from being bitten in the first place and offers peace of mind when your pet is exploring the outdoors.
You should also check your pet’s coat after coming in from outside by running your fingers through their coat and over their skin. If you feel any bumps on your pet’s skin, part their fur to take a closer look, as that bump may be a latched tick that needs to be removed. Find out how to remove ticks safely in our guide.
We also recommend using a flea comb on your pet in the areas most likely for fleas to gather, such as around their necks, in their armpits, and at the base of their tail. Fleas are small and hard to spot with the naked eye, especially in longer-haired animals, but using a comb will verify if there are any on your pet.
Worms
Pets can pick up worms in various places, but the most common are from eating or drinking contaminated water, soil, or faeces. During the summer, when you’re out with your dog or cat exploring without you, they see water as water and will drink from any source available, increasing the odds of ingesting worm eggs or larvae.
Always ensure your pet’s routine worming treatments are up to date in the summer to eradicate any infestations before they can start. Also, ensure clean water sources are available for your pet, such as water bowls or travel bottles for dogs on the go, to dissuade them from drinking from other places.
Flystrike in Pets
Flystrike is a nasty condition in which flies land on pets (particularly small pets like guinea pigs and rabbits) and lay eggs in their fur. These eggs then hatch into maggots, which eat the flesh of the living host.
Flystrike can be fatal in severe cases, so properly protecting your pets is essential. Here are some of the ways you can prevent flystrike in pets:
- Check your pets daily – take note of their skin and coat condition, as well as their behaviour.
- Keep your pet’s rear end clean to avoid attracting flies.
- Clean your pet's toilet area daily and change bedding at least once a week.
- Make sure your pet is healthy and in optimum body condition.
- Use insect proofing on small pet enclosures.
Water Safety for Pets
Water is a great way for your pets to stay hydrated, cool, and have fun at the same time! But there are some water safety tips you should follow to ensure they stay safe. The key things to do are:
- Ensure paddling pools are emptied and cleaned after use.
- Monitor pets around swimming pools and never let them swim alone.
- Make sure your pet can swim or provide a pet life jacket if they can’t or aren’t physically able to keep themselves afloat.
- Keep all above-ground or in-ground pools covered or fenced off when not in use.
Swimming Safety for Dogs
Swimming can be a great way for dogs to stay cool in the summer and to exercise without putting too much strain on their joints. However, swimming does not suit every dog, especially not barrel-chested, flat-faced, or short-legged dogs who may struggle to keep their head above water.
To ensure your dog’s safety when swimming:
- Aim for shallow waters, such as paddling in shallow spots near lakes or slow-moving rivers and streams.
- Always monitor your dog while swimming to ensure they don’t overexert themselves and can easily escape the water.
- Provide a life jacket for dogs not built for swimming to enjoy themselves safely.
You can learn more about keeping your dog safe while swimming in our guide.
Blue-Green Algae
Most wild water sources are full of plant life essential to the ecosystems under the surface. However, some water sources, like ponds, slow-moving streams, and lakes, can contain blue-green algae, which is extremely toxic to dogs.
Blue-green algae are a type of bacteria called ‘cyanobacteria’ that thrive in stagnant or standing water. This bacterium can release toxins that cause severe illness, leading to organ failure or even death
Recognising blue-green algae can be a challenge if you’re not a marine plant expert, so here are some of the signs that blue-green algae may be present in water:
- A blue-green scum on the water’s surface
- Blue-green streaks in the water (these may look like streaks of paint)
- Cloudy water with a blue-green hue or floating chunks of blue-green or brown matter.
- Foaming at the water’s edge
- Dead fish, bugs, or other wildlife in or around the water.
Many places known for blue-green algae have warning signs advising you and your dog to stay out of the water, but these aren’t always used, so if you’re not sure, maybe skip the swim or find a fresher water source. Never let your dog drink from standing or stagnant water sources. Bring your own water when exploring with your dog.
Summer Wildlife Safety
Everything comes alive in the summer, especially local wildlife. It’s important to know what kind of wildlife is most active in the summer so you can protect your pet from unwanted bites and stings, while also respecting and protecting the wildlife and their habitats.
Here are some of the most common UK wildlife you can expect to active in the summer, both in your garden and out in the wild:
Bees & Wasps
Bees are most active between April and October, but swarming occurs from mid-May to mid-June. During these warmer months, beehives are most active, with Queens laying eggs and worker bees collecting pollen and nectar. This means you’re likely to see a lot of bees in your garden, especially if you’ve got pollinator-friendly plants. Wasps are also active around this time and take much less provocation to sting.
While bees very rarely sting without feeling threatened, dogs and their inquisitive noses can sometimes get stung, especially when they try to eat the bees. If your dog tries to eat a bee or gets stung on its nose, face, or mouth, the resulting swelling can impact their ability to breathe. In these instances, you must take your dog to the vet for treatment.
What to Do If Your Pet is Stung
If your pet is stung by a bee or a wasp somewhere that doesn’t impact their breathing, here’s what you can do to help:
- Check for a stinger—Wasps and hornets won’t leave one behind, but bee stingers embed into the skin and continue to inject venom.
- Remove the stinger—If a stinger remains, you need to remove it by gently scraping it out with a credit card.
- Apply ice—Ice, a towel soaked in cold water, or a bag of frozen peas can help reduce the swelling.
- Soak the area—Bathing the affected area in a sodium bicarbonate solution can neutralise the acid in a bee sting, while using vinegar can neutralise the alkaline wasp venom.
If your pet is stung multiple times or displays any symptoms of an allergic reaction (such as drowsiness, pale gums, seizures, or vomiting), take them to the vet immediately.
Snake Safety for Pets
Of the three species of snake native to the UK, only one is venomous: the adder. You can recognise adders by their distinctive zigzag pattern and red eyes. Despite being venomous, adders go out looking for people or pets to bite. However, if they feel threatened, it’s their natural instinct to do just that.
How to Prevent Snake Bites in Dogs
To prevent your dog from being bitten by an adder while out exploring, here's what to do:
- Recognise adder habitats: adders live in long grass, woodlands, and sand dunes.
- Keep your dog on a lead: If you’re walking somewhere adders might be, keep your dog on the lead to prevent them from nosing around near any snakes.
- Stick to Paths: Adders prefer thick vegetation to hide beneath, so stick to the path when walking in woodlands and keep your dog from venturing too far into undergrowth.
- If you see an adder, stay calm, keep your dog close, and allow the snake to move away on its own.
If your dog is bitten by an adder, call your emergency vet as soon as possible and carry your dog back to the car. Minimising their movement can help prevent venom from spreading.
Accidents happen, there's no denying it, but by being aware of the risks to your pet during the summer months, you can be proactive in keeping them safe. We hope our summer safety tips help you feel prepared to veture out and make more memories with your furry friend this summer. And if you want to be more prepared, shop our great range of summer pet essentials below.
This post is an opinion and should only be used as a guide. You should thoroughly discuss any change to your pet’s care or lifestyle with your vet before starting any program or treatment.
