07/21/2026
🌞Extreme Heat = Serious Risk for Pets🌞
With temperatures soaring, it’s important to remember that our pets are much more susceptible to heat-related illness than we are. Heatstroke can develop quickly and become life-threatening—even in otherwise healthy pets.
Here are a few simple ways to help keep your furry family members safe:
💧 Provide fresh, cool water at all times. Hydration is essential, whether your pet is indoors or outside.
🌳 Limit outdoor time. Walk dogs early in the morning or later in the evening when temperatures are cooler. Avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest part of the day.
🔥 Protect those paws! Pavement, asphalt, sand, and artificial turf can become hot enough to burn paw pads. If it’s too hot for the back of your hand for 7 seconds, it’s too hot for your pet’s paws.
🚗 Never leave a pet in a parked car. Even with the windows cracked, temperatures inside a vehicle can become deadly within minutes.
🏡 Keep pets cool indoors. Air conditioning is best, but fans, cool resting areas, and plenty of fresh water can also help.
❤️ Know who’s at higher risk: Flat-faced breeds (Bulldogs, Pugs, Boston Terriers, etc.), senior pets, overweight pets, puppies and kittens, and pets with heart or respiratory disease are especially vulnerable to overheating.
⚠️ Signs of heatstroke include:
• Excessive panting
• Drooling
• Bright red or pale gums
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Weakness or staggering
• Confusion
• Collapse or seizures
🚨 If you suspect your pet is overheating: Move them to a cool, shaded or air-conditioned area immediately. Offer small amounts of cool (not ice-cold) water, wet them with cool water, and contact us or Animal Emergency and Specialty Center of Northwest Arkansas right away. Heatstroke is a medical emergency where every minute matters.
Let’s work together to keep our four-legged family members safe during this heat wave! 🐶🐱❤️
