Seattle summers sneak up on us. One week we're pulling out rain jackets, the next we're hitting 85 degrees, and our pets are paying the price. Here's what every Seattle Humane supporter needs to know to keep dogs and cats safe when the temperature climbs.
The Pavement Is Hotter Than You Think
The temperature in the air tells you almost nothing about what’s happening at ground level. Concrete and asphalt absorb heat and radiate it back, often running 40 to 60 degrees hotter than the air above. At just 85 degrees outside, asphalt can hit 135 degrees and burn a dog’s paw pads in 60 seconds.
The test is simple: Press the back of your hand to the pavement and hold it for seven seconds. If you can’t keep it there, it’s too hot for paws.
A few rules to live by this summer:
- Walk during the cooler hours: early morning and late evening. Skip the midday peak entirely.
- Stick to shade and grass when you can. Even artificial turf gets hot enough to cause burns.
- Consider dog booties or paw wax on hot-pavement days.
- Check paws after every walk.
Watch for these signs of paw burns: limping or refusing to walk, excessive licking or chewing at the feet, discoloration that’s darker or redder than normal, blisters or visible distress. If you spot any of these, get your dog off the hot surface and into shade immediately. Rinse the paws with cool water, not ice, and call your vet. Burns can require professional treatment.
Know the Difference Between Hot and Dangerous
A dog’s normal body temperature runs between 98.5 and 102.5 degrees. Heatstroke sets in at temperatures over 105 degrees. At that point, the body’s cooling system has been overwhelmed and can no longer regulate itself. Left untreated, it can lead to organ failure, shock and death within a short window.
Dogs can’t sweat their way out of trouble the way we can. Panting is their primary cooling method, with a small assist from sweat glands in their paws. That means high heat, poor ventilation, being left in a parked car, overexertion and limited water access all stack the odds against them fast.
Some pets face a higher risk than others: brachycephalic breeds like bulldogs and pugs, senior pets, overweight animals, puppies and any pet with existing heart or respiratory conditions.
Cats hide distress well, which makes them dangerous to underestimate. Any cat panting or breathing with an open mouth needs a vet visit. That symptom is never normal in cats, and by the time it shows up, a cat may already be in serious trouble.
Signs of heatstroke to watch for: heavy panting, rapid breathing, drooling, restlessness, seeking out cool surfaces, lethargy, a racing heart, bright red or pink gums, seizures or collapse.
If you suspect heatstroke, act fast:
- 1. Move your pet to a cool, shaded or indoor space.
- 2. Offer small amounts of water. Never force water into the mouth.
- 3. Apply cool, not cold, water or a cool compress to the abdomen, inner thighs, paws and neck. If using ice packs, wrap them in a towel first; never apply ice directly to skin.
- 4. Use a fan. Since dogs can’t sweat, moving air helps cool them efficiently.
- 5. Do not submerge your pet in water.
- 6. Get to a vet immediately. Some complications develop later, so a vet visit is critical even if your pet seems to recover.
Keep the Water Flowing
Dehydration makes it harder for a pet’s heart to pump blood, which raises the risk of heat stroke. A few easy ways to encourage drinking this summer:
- Add water to meals, or a wet food topper.
- Offer pet-safe, water-dense produce in small amounts: watermelon, cucumber, strawberry or celery.
- Keep at least two water bowls available, out of direct sun, wash and refresh them often. Bacteria can change the taste of standing water enough that some pets stop drinking altogether.
Mental enrichment helps, too. Repetitive licking calms a dog’s nervous system, so frozen lick mats or stuffable toys like a Kong, Woof Pupsicle or Freeze Bone do double duty: they cool your dog down and keep them occupied during the hottest part of the day.
Never Leave a Pet in a Parked Car
A parked car turns into an oven faster than most people expect. Once outside temperatures reach 70 degrees, a car’s interior becomes a sauna, climbing past 105 degrees within minutes even with the windows cracked. Cracking a window doesn’t buy meaningful time. Five minutes is enough to put a dog or cat at risk of heatstroke, organ failure or death.
Washington law backs this up. Leaving any animal unattended in a car or enclosed space is a class 2 civil infraction if the animal could be harmed or killed by excessive heat, excessive cold, lack of ventilation or lack of water, and separate animal cruelty charges can apply on top of that infraction.
The rules around rescuing a trapped animal are just as specific. Only a law enforcement or animal control officer can legally remove an animal from a locked vehicle, and only when there’s reason to believe the animal is suffering or likely to suffer harm, with no owner around to otherwise reach it. A newer Washington law gives everyday bystanders limited protection to step in themselves, but only under a strict checklist: confirm the vehicle is locked with no other way out, hold a good-faith belief the animal is in imminent danger, call 911 before acting, use no more force than necessary and stay with the animal until first responders arrive.
If you plan to visit Seattle Humane’s adoption center with an animal, ensure you have a plan in place, so your pet is not left alone in the parking lot inside a vehicle.
