How to Keep Your Dog Cool—Three Tips from a Vet

A woman kneeing in a field with her arms around her two black labs
Dr. Madeline Fellin
A woman wearing a Fishewear Orvis Sling Pack fly fishes in a river with her dog

Dr. Madeline Fellin is a small-animal veterinarian in Butte, Montana.


Dehydration, overheating, and heat stroke can occur quickly in dogs, making some of our favorite summer activities quite dangerous. Heat stroke is a medical emergency that occurs when your dog’s body can no longer cool itself using normal mechanisms due to the high external temperatures. When your dog’s body is over 104 degrees, it is a major medical emergency, and you need to seek veterinary care as heat stroke can result in multiple organ failure and even death.


When adventuring with your dogs in the heat, it’s important to keep three things in mind: break, shade, and water.

A woman offering her dogs water out of a blue travel bowl

1. Offer Water Frequently

Make sure you have plenty of water to keep your dog hydrated and stay cool. Offer them cool water frequently to avoid dehydration and overheating.

A black lab in a red collar sits in emerald green grass under a cloudy sky

2. Take Breaks

While adventuring, take intermittent breaks to let your dog catch their breath. If you’re off-leash adventuring, bring a leash in your pack so you can have your dog walk alongside you to take breaks from running and prevent overheating. Avoid walking your dog on the pavement in the summer; the temperature of the pavement can heat up quickly and burn their paw pads.

A woman watches her dog splash into a river

3. Find Shade or Swim

If your dog has a thick and/or dark coat, they are going to heat up quickly and be prone to dehydration and overheating. As you explore, take time to escape direct sunlight and let your dog cool off in the shade or water. If they choose to swim, make sure it is in moving water as shallow stagnant water poses a risk for blue-green algae that is toxic to dogs.

Videos from Dr. Madeline Fellin

A woman hiking up a mountain with her dog during summer
Keeping Dogs Cool
A woman waring a baseball hat sitting in an open field with a black lab sitting next to her
5 Signs of Heatstroke in Dogs
A woman holding a red first aid box at the back of a truck
What’s in My First-Aid Kit?
A woman hiking up a mountain with her dog during summer
Keeping Dogs Cool
A woman waring a baseball hat sitting in an open field with a black lab sitting next to her
5 Signs of Heatstroke in Dogs
A woman holding a red first aid box at the back of a truck
What’s in My First-Aid Kit?

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