Dubai summers are dangerous for pets. Temperatures pass 45 degrees, and dogs cool down mainly by panting, which works far less well in heat like this. Once a pet starts to overheat, minutes count. Every pet parent in Dubai needs a summer plan, and this is where to start.
Walk at the right time of day
When you walk is the most important summer decision you will make for your dog. From May to September, walk them before 8am or after 7pm. Even then, pavement and sand hold on to the heat. Press the back of your hand on the pavement for seven seconds. If it is too hot for you, it is too hot for their paws. On a hot day, pavement can burn paws in about a minute, and so can hot sand.
Move the exercise indoors
In summer, indoor play does the work the long walk used to. Puzzle feeders, short training sessions, indoor fetch and a game of tug keep your dog busy in body and mind without the heat. A tired dog is a happy dog, as long as they got tired somewhere cool.
Keep water close
Do not wait for your pet to look thirsty. Keep fresh, cool water in more than one place at home, check the bowls through the day and refill them often. On walks and in the car, take water and a fold-flat bowl, even for a short trip.
Never leave a pet in the car
Never leave a pet in a parked car, not even for a minute. Not while you run into the shop, and not while you pay for petrol. A closed car heats up by about 10 degrees in ten minutes, and in the sun the air inside can reach 47 degrees within an hour. Cracking the windows does not make it safe. Most heatstroke is preventable, and this is the easiest place to prevent it.
Indoor cats feel the heat too
Cats are often left out of summer safety advice because most stay indoors. But most heatstroke in cats happens when a cat is shut in somewhere hot, and indoor cats are at risk too. If the air conditioning fails while you are at work, a closed room heats up fast. Keep the air conditioning serviced, and make sure someone, a neighbour or a friend, can check on your cat when you are away.
Balconies need care too. A balcony floor in the sun can get as hot as the pavement outside. If your cat goes out there, give them shade and water, and keep them inside through the hottest part of the day. Cats get heatstroke less often than dogs, and they tend to hide it, so watch for panting or open-mouth breathing, restlessness and wobbling.
Swimming is still exercise in the heat
Swimming is great exercise for a dog who loves the water, but it does not make them safe from the heat. Any dog exercising or swimming in the heat is at risk of heatstroke. Keep swims short, stay close, and let them rest in the shade. Not every dog is a natural swimmer, and a tired dog in the water is in danger. Dry their ears well after every swim, because water and humidity make ear infections more likely. Our summer coat care guide has more on coats, paws and ears.
Which pets are most at risk
Any pet can overheat in a Dubai summer, but some are at higher risk. Flat-faced breeds like Pugs and French Bulldogs are among the most at risk, along with thick-coated, overweight and older dogs. Early summer is a risky time for every dog, before they have got used to the heat.
Signs of heatstroke, and what to do
In dogs, watch for constant panting, drooling, bright red gums, vomiting or diarrhoea, and stumbling, confusion or collapse. If you see them, cool your pet on the way to the vet, and do not hold off leaving until they have cooled down. Move them into shade or air conditioning straight away. Wet their coat and skin with cool water, not ice-cold, especially the belly, and keep water away from their face. Offer small sips if they are awake, and travel with the air conditioning on. Have them seen by a vet afterwards, however well they seem to recover. Our emergency page shows what to do right now, and Heatstroke in Dogs goes into more detail.
Walk early or late, keep water close, and never leave them in the car. strong>Summer in Dubai is long. Their walk can wait until 7pm, even if they disagree./strong>
