Making sure your pet is hydrated in the summer can take a lot of thought and preparation, especially if they're a fan of outdoor play and exercise. When there is a heatwave, it's more important than ever to make sure your pets have easy access to plenty of sources of clean water and lots of shade to protect them from the sun.
Why hydration matters more than you might think
Dehydration in pets can escalate quickly. In dogs, a loss of just 5% of body water can be clinically detectable, while levels of 12–15% can become severe enough to cause shock or prove fatal. Cats are equally vulnerable – dehydration above 10–12% carries significant health risks and can develop faster than many owners realise.
Knowing the warning signs is the first step to keeping your pet safe. Common signs of dehydration in cats and dogs include:
- Dry or sticky gums
- Loss of skin elasticity
- Sunken eyes
- Excessive panting
- Low energy or lethargy
- Weakness
- Vomiting
- Changes in breathing or behaviour
- Loss of appetite, particularly in cats
If your pet is showing signs of severe dehydration or heat-related illness, seek veterinary advice immediately. Early treatment is crucial and can prevent much more serious complications from developing.
The good news? With a little preparation, keeping your pet cool and hydrated this summer is straightforward. Here are our top tips.
1. Use a dog travel flask to keep your pet hydrated on walks
Whether it's your daily walk around the block or somewhere further afield, making sure your dog stays hydrated on a walk is essential during the warmer months. Our dog travel flask with integrated drinking bowl is the perfect solution – simply pull up the bowl, pour, and let your dog drink straight from it. No spillage, no faff, and no need to pack a separate bowl. The clever design means any undrunk water can be poured straight back into the flask, so none is lost. Compact and lightweight, they're ideal for everything from a quick morning stroll to a full day's hiking.
2. Plan dog walks with shady spots to avoid overheating
If you know your next walk will be a particularly long one, think about your dog's needs ahead of time. Choose a route with plenty of shaded spots for breaks away from direct sunlight, and before you leave home, check that the ground – particularly tarmac pavements – isn't too hot for little paw pads. Avoid walks and outdoor activity during the hottest parts of the day, typically between 11am and 3pm in the UK summer.
3. Keep pets cool with rest, enrichment, and frozen treats
Avoiding midday heat means your pet will stay cooler for longer. By doing less exercise and staying out of the sun, their bodies will conserve water and stay hydrated. Here are some cooling activities to try at home:
- Hide toys or treats around your garden and let your pet sniff them out – low-energy fun that keeps them stimulated.
- Prepare a frozen lick mat – spread wet food, peanut butter, or yoghurt onto a lick mat and freeze for a few hours. It's a cooling, mentally enriching treat perfect for hot afternoons.
- Offer hydrating frozen snacks – cucumber or watermelon in moderation for dogs, or frozen treats made from tuna water or low-salt chicken stock for cats.
- Provide access to cool resting spaces – paddling pools for dogs, and shaded indoor areas for cats.
- Use cooling aids such as damp towels and cooling mats, or gently cool paws and underbellies with water.
4. Give cats and dogs multiple fresh water sources at home and outdoors
Provide multiple fresh water sources around the home and garden, in shaded, cool areas, and refresh them regularly throughout the day to keep water cool and appealing. For cats, keep water bowls away from food and litter trays – many cats prefer drinking in separate, quiet spaces.
Our pet water fountains are a brilliant way to encourage reluctant drinkers – many cats and dogs naturally prefer flowing water. Our cordless fountains are especially versatile: with no cable to worry about, you can place them anywhere in the home or garden, keeping fresh, filtered water within reach wherever your pet likes to spend time.
5. Keep pet food fresh in hot weather with an ice pack feeder
Hot weather doesn't just affect your pet's thirst – it can cause wet food to spoil quickly, making it less appealing and potentially unsafe. Our automatic feeders with ice packs keep meals fresher for longer, even on the warmest days. Simply freeze the ice pack insert and slot it into the feeder before filling – your pet's food stays cool and appetising, giving you peace of mind even when you're out for a few hours.
6. Stop pets drinking dirty water outdoors this summer
Remove any pools or puddles of stagnant water in your garden so your pet isn't tempted by unclean sources. Though great fun for a swim, lakes, ponds and streams may harbour dangerous parasites if ingested – so on walks and day trips, always bring a travel flask rather than letting your pet drink from natural water sources.
7. Make dry pet food more appealing on hot days
Try adding water to dry kibble – it makes food more attractive on a hot day and introduces a subtle boost of hydration. Keep on top of grooming too, particularly for cats and long-haired breeds, to help remove excess hair that can trap heat and cause discomfort.
8. Never leave your dog or cat in a hot car
Never leave your pet in a parked car on a hot day. Even with a window cracked and water inside, temperatures can climb rapidly, preventing dogs from panting effectively and leading to dangerous overheating. Instead, leave your pet at home with access to the garden via a cat flap or dog door, so they can move freely between indoors and outdoors to regulate their temperature.
Closer Pets' top recommendations for keeping pets hydrated this summer
To help your pet stay hydrated during warmer weather, we recommend:
- Providing multiple fresh water sources around the home and garden, in shaded, cool areas
- Refreshing water regularly throughout the day to keep it cool and appealing
- Using flowing water sources, such as pet fountains, which many cats and dogs naturally prefer
- Keeping water to hand on walks using portable bottles or travel bowls
- Keeping cats' water bowls away from food and litter trays
- Offering hydrating treats such as cucumber or watermelon for dogs, or frozen tuna water treats for cats
- Using cooling aids such as damp towels, cooling mats, or paddling pools
- Avoiding walks during the hottest parts of the day
A healthy water intake will vary between animals of different sizes and activity levels – and speaking to your vet will give you personalised guidance tailored to your pet's individual needs.
Shop our summer pet essentials
Keeping your pet cool and hydrated this summer is easier with the right kit. Here's what we recommend:
- Automatic feeders with ice packs — keep wet food fresh on hot days
- Cordless water fountains — place anywhere, indoors or out
- Dog travel flask with drinking bowl — hydration on every walk
- Freezable lick mats — a cooling, enriching treat for warm afternoons