Pets and Animal Care · Lesson 4 of 8 · 9 min
Pets and Gulf heat
Summer in the Gulf can be dangerous for animals, and heatstroke can develop quickly. A few habits protect paws, lungs and lives.
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Cars are never safe
- PDSA and partner charities warn that when it is 22°C outside, the inside of a car can reach 47°C within an hour.
- They also say that leaving a window open does not keep a car cool enough.
- In a Gulf summer, outdoor temperatures are far higher than 22°C, so never leave any animal in a parked car, even for a quick errand.
- If you see an animal in distress in a hot car, call the police (999 in the UAE) straight away.
Walk at the right time, on the right surface
- UAE vets quoted by Gulf News advise walking dogs early in the morning or late in the evening when temperatures are cooler.
- Dogs Trust suggests the back-of-hand test: hold the back of your hand on the ground for several seconds; if it is too hot for your hand, it is too hot for your dog's paws.
- Choose shaded grass over tarmac or concrete, carry fresh water and keep exercise light.
- On exceptionally hot days, skip the walk and play gently indoors instead. Dogs Trust's message: a missed walk is better than burnt paws.
Who is most at risk
- PDSA lists very old or young dogs, dogs with thick coats, flat-faced breeds such as pugs and bulldogs, dogs with some diseases and dogs on certain medicines as higher risk.
- A UAE vet quoted by Gulf News explains that short-nosed breeds such as bulldogs, pugs and boxers cannot pant as efficiently, so they overheat more easily.
- Make sure every pet has shade and plenty of fresh, cool water at all times, indoors and out.
- Ask a vet before shaving a pet's coat or changing its diet for summer, as UAE vets advise.
Know the warning signs
- UAE vets list excessive panting and drooling, lethargy or weakness, vomiting or diarrhoea, a rapid heart rate and bright red or pale gums as signs of overheating.
- In severe cases, a pet may collapse or have seizures.
- Heatstroke is an emergency: move the pet into shade or air conditioning and phone a vet immediately, then follow their instructions while you travel.
- Save your vet's number and the nearest 24 hour emergency clinic in your phone before summer starts.
Practise in real life
Tick each one off when you have done it.
- Do the back-of-hand test on the pavement outside your home at 8am, 1pm and 7pm on the same day, and note which times would be safe for a walk.
- Save your vet's number and the nearest 24 hour animal emergency clinic in your phone.
Remember
- Never leave a pet in a car: even at 22°C outside, a car can reach 47°C within an hour.
- Walk early or late, on shaded grass, and use the back-of-hand test.
- Flat-faced, old, young and thick-coated pets are at higher risk.
- Heavy panting, drooling, weakness, vomiting and collapse mean: call a vet now.
Note: Heatstroke first aid should be guided by a vet over the phone; this lesson deliberately gives only the first step (shade and call a vet). Pavement temperature tests are rules of thumb, not precise measurements. UAE advice here comes from vets quoted in Gulf News rather than an official authority.
Check yourself
1. According to PDSA and partner charities, how hot can a car get within an hour when it is 22°C outside?
2. What does Dogs Trust's pavement test involve?
3. Why are pugs and bulldogs at higher risk in the heat?
4. Which is a warning sign of overheating, according to UAE vets?