08/15/2026
YOUR DOG CANNOT ESCAPE THE HEAT — PLEASE READ THIS. 🥵🐾
We can’t express this enough!
We are a veterinary clinic, and we are asking you to please take this heat seriously.
We see this far too often. Even when we're away from the clinic, we drive around our community and see dogs outside in this heat—walking on hot pavement, tied out in yards with little or no shade, and sometimes with no visible water. We know people love their pets. But sometimes people simply don't realize how dangerous these temperatures are.
Your dog cannot tell you, "I'm too hot." By the time you realize something is wrong, it can already be an emergency.
PLEASE:
🌡️ Don't walk your dog during the hottest part of the day.
If you're uncomfortable standing outside, your dog is probably uncomfortable too. Hot pavement can burn paw pads, and dogs can develop heatstroke surprisingly fast.
🌳 Make sure there is REAL shade at home.
A tiny patch of shade that disappears as the sun moves isn't enough. If your dog is outside, they need a cool, shaded area where they can actually get out of the sun for the entire time they're outdoors.
💧 Fresh, clean water should ALWAYS be available.
Not a bowl that has been sitting outside all day getting hot and dirty. Check it. Refill it. If it gets knocked over, your dog has nothing.
⛓️ Please don't chain or tether your dog outside in this heat.
A dog tied in a yard cannot move freely to find shade, water, or a cooler place. And a dog that becomes tangled or panicked has even fewer options. If you wouldn't want to be stuck outside in those conditions, don't make your dog stay there.
🏠 Bring them inside when it is dangerously hot.
Your dog does not need to live outside. Air conditioning isn't a luxury when temperatures become extreme—it can save a life.
🐾 Don't assume your dog is okay because they have done it before.
Heatstroke doesn't care if your dog is young, healthy, large, small, fluffy, short-haired, or "used to the heat." Some dogs are more vulnerable, but every dog can overheat.
And please remember: a dog can be in serious trouble before they collapse. Excessive panting, drooling, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, stumbling, confusion, bright red or pale gums, or collapse are warning signs that should never be ignored.
We aren't saying this to judge anyone. We're saying it because we see what happens when heat exposure goes too far.
And if you are struggling to keep your pet safe in this heat, please ask for help. There are rescue organizations, animal welfare groups, shelters, and people in our community who may be willing to help with temporary shelter, shade, supplies, or other resources. Do your due diligence. Make the calls. Ask questions. Reach out.
There is no shame in asking for help. There is shame in knowing your pet is suffering and doing nothing because you didn't try.
Your dog has no choice about the weather.
You do.
Keep them cool. Keep them hydrated. Give them shade. Don't leave them chained or tethered outside. And when it's dangerously hot, bring them inside.
Because at the end of the day, your dog is counting on you to recognize the danger before they have to. They can't turn on the air conditioning. They can't fill their water bowl. They can't untie themselves. They can't tell you they're in trouble. You have to be their voice and make the decision for them.
They don't get to choose whether they're outside. You do. Make the choice that keeps them safe. ❤️🐶
