Keeping Pets Safe When the Heat Won’t Quit

Extreme heat doesn’t just wear people out. It can be dangerous, even deadly, for the animals depending on us to notice when something’s wrong. Dogs and cats can’t tell you they’re overheating, and backyard chickens, popular with a lot of retirees who keep a small flock, are especially vulnerable because they can’t sweat at all.

Here’s how to recognize the warning signs early and what to do before a hot day turns into an emergency vet visit.

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The Warning Signs, By Animal

Dogs

• Heavy panting that doesn’t slow down, even at rest
• Bright red or purple gums and tongue
• Drooling more than usual
• Wobbly walking, disorientation, or collapsing
• Vomiting or diarrhea

Cats

• Cats hide heat distress well, so watch for subtle signs: excessive grooming (they lick to cool off), lethargy, or panting, which is unusual for cats and always worth taking seriously
• Drooling or a fast heart rate
• Reluctance to move, or lying flat and stretched out on cool surfaces

Backyard Chickens

• Wings held away from the body and panting with an open beak
• Pale, floppy combs and wattles
• Reduced egg laying
• Lethargy, or in severe cases, vomiting and collapse

Chickens are hit especially hard because their bodies are covered in feathers built for insulation, not cooling. If your area has been running hot, checking on a backyard flock twice a day, not once, is worth the extra few minutes.

What to Do Right Away

1. Move the animal to shade or air conditioning immediately. Every minute matters once symptoms appear.
2. Offer cool, not ice-cold, water. Water that’s too cold can cause shock.
3. Wet the body, not the face. A damp towel on the belly, paws, and ears helps bring the temperature down without the risk of a chill.
4. Use a fan if you have one. Airflow speeds up cooling.
5. Call your vet, even if the animal seems to recover. Heatstroke can cause organ damage that isn’t obvious right away. For chickens, a local farm vet or extension office can advise on flock-specific care.

Prevention Matters More Than a Cure

• Always keep fresh water available, and check it more than once a day since it warms up fast in the heat
• Walk dogs early morning or evening, not midday
• Never leave any pet in a parked car, not even for a few minutes
• For coops, add extra ventilation, shade cloth, and a shallow pan of cool water chickens can stand in

A few cooling products are worth having on hand before the next heat wave hits, not during it:

• Cooling mat for dogs and cats to lie on
• Elevated water fountain to keep water circulating and cooler than a still bowl
• Shade cloth or tarp for outdoor runs and coops

Extreme heat isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, but a little extra attention can be the difference between a rough day and a real emergency for the animals in your care.

Comment below with your pet!