If you want to cool a dog down quickly, it comes down to three things: get it out of the sun and into shade or a cool room, give it access to fresh water, and place something cool against its body - for example a damp towel or cool tiles under the paws and belly. Dogs don't sweat through their skin like humans do, and they primarily regulate heat through panting and through their paws. That's why they overheat faster than we do, and that's why it's important to act calmly and purposefully when the heat builds up.
Below you'll find the concrete methods for cooling your dog down, how to recognise the early signs that it's too hot, and which daily habits make the warm months safe for your everyday life. If you're unsure how serious it is, or if your dog seems lethargic, confused or affected, you should always contact your vet immediately.
How to cool your dog down step by step
Start by moving the dog away from the direct heat source. That could be into a shady room, into a room with an open window or a fan, or simply to a place with cool air and calm. The change of location itself often makes the biggest difference, because it stops the heat from rising further.
Then you work on the body itself. Place a damp, cool towel over the dog, or gently dab it with lukewarm water on the belly, the inside of the thighs, the paws and the neck, where the blood vessels lie close to the skin. Avoid ice-cold water and sudden, intense cooling, as it can constrict the blood vessels and make the cooling slower. Calm, even cooling works better than a shock of cold. At the same time, make sure the dog has access to fresh, cool water, so it can drink at its own pace - never force it to drink.
Keep an eye on how the dog responds. If the panting becomes calmer, it seems more alert and finds a comfortable position on its own, it's on its way back to balance. If it continues to be very affected, lethargic or unsteady on its feet, it's no longer a matter of cooling down at home, but of getting to the vet quickly.
Signs that your dog is too hot
A dog that's getting too hot pants heavily and persistently, drools more than usual and often becomes restless or actively seeks out shade and a cool surface. Some dogs, on the other hand, become unusually quiet and withdraw. You know your dog best, and that's exactly why your sense of what's normal for that particular dog is the best early warning.
Some dogs are more sensitive than others. Short-nosed breeds, dogs with thick, heavy coats, puppies, senior dogs and overweight dogs have a harder time regulating heat. If your dog has one of these conditions, it's extra important to stay ahead on hot days. If you notice signs that concern you, or if the dog seems markedly affected, the assessment belongs with your vet - not in a checklist. Overheating can develop quickly, and here it's better to react once too often than once too little.
Shade, water and a cool surface in everyday life
The best cooling is the kind that prevents the dog from ever getting too hot. Always make sure there's a shady spot the dog can retreat to, both indoors and outdoors. A cool floor of tiles or ceramic is one of the simplest and most effective things you can offer, because the dog can place its belly against the cool surface itself and regulate its temperature.
Fresh water should be available all day, ideally in several places, and ideally changed often so it stays cool and inviting. On particularly hot days you can place an extra bowl in the shade outside and one inside. Some dogs also enjoy a shallow pool or a tub with a little water, where they can stand with their paws - the paws are one of the dog's most important places to release heat from, so it makes a real difference.
A cool activity can also help the dog settle down in the heat rather than using unnecessary energy. The Licking Mat is a simple tool here: if you spread a little soft meal or a dog pâté over the mat and chill it briefly in the fridge, the dog gets a slow, soothing moment that at the same time offers a bit of cooling moisture. It's not cooling in itself, but a good way to create calm and presence on a hot afternoon.
How to adapt walks and activity in the heat
On hot days, the longer walks should be moved to early morning and late evening, when both the air and the asphalt have cooled down. Asphalt can become scorching hot in the sun and injure the paws, long after the air feels pleasant to us. A simple test is to hold the back of your hand against the surface for a few seconds - if it's too hot for you, it's too hot for the dog's paws.
At the same time, dial down the intensity. A dog with a high activity level will often push to run and play on its own, but in the heat it's your job to hold back, because the dog doesn't sense the danger in time itself. Dogs with a more moderate everyday routine are correspondingly best off with short, calm walks and long breaks in the shade. Choose flat terrain and shaded routes, and always bring water if you're moving away from home.
Never leave the dog waiting in a parked car, not even for a short time and not even with the window ajar. The temperature in a car rises extremely quickly and becomes life-threatening far sooner than you'd think. The same goes for enclosed spaces without air circulation. If you're planning a day out, factor in the dog's cooling and drinking breaks in advance, just as you plan your own.
Meals, thirst and wellbeing when it's hot
Many dogs eat less and with a lower appetite in intense heat, and that's generally completely normal. Here a soft, juicy meal can be both more tempting and an extra source of fluid. A PÂTÉ has a higher water content than dry meals and can therefore make it easier to get both nutrition and moisture into a dog that isn't very hungry when the sun is high. In dog pâté you'll find prepared meals of human-grade ingredients and fresh produce, put together with the dog's daily wellbeing in mind.
If you have a puppy, the warm days are a good occasion to teach good cooling and drinking habits from the start. In ESSENTIAL FOODS' puppy universe you'll find a well-thought-out world with advice straight from ESSENTIAL FOODS, so you can confidently adapt everyday life to your young dog's needs - even when the weather changes. For senior dogs, the golden years often call for extra attention in the heat, because heat regulation and thirst can change with age; here calm, shade and easily accessible water are particularly important.
If you're unsure how best to adapt your dog's meals to the heat, its appetite or its life stage, ESSENTIAL FOODS' nutrition advisers are ready by phone, chat or email to help you find the right solution regarding feeding and nutrition. If, on the other hand, the concern is about the dog's health or signs of actual overheating, it's your vet you should get hold of - quickly and without waiting for it to pass on its own. With shade, cool water, a cool surface and a sensible daily rhythm, you give your dog the best conditions to enjoy the summer in calm and comfort by your side.