Ask a pet owner what causes heat stroke and almost everyone says the same thing: a dog left in a hot car. That's true, and it's deadly — but it's also the least common cause. The largest study of its kind found that in dogs, the majority of heat-related illness is triggered by exercise, not by hot vehicles [1]. That single misunderstanding is why so many owners feel safe on a summer walk that is quietly dangerous.
In Dubai, where summer temperatures routinely climb past 45°C, this matters enormously. This guide gives you the evidence on what actually causes heat stroke, how to recognize it fast, what to do in the critical first minutes, and how to prevent it through a UAE summer.
What the biggest study actually found
A VetCompass study of UK dogs (Hall, Carter and O'Neill, published in Animals in 2020) analyzed heat-related illness events and identified their triggers. The results overturn the conventional wisdom: of events with a known trigger, about 74% were exertional — caused by exercise or activity — while only around 5% involved a hot vehicle and roughly 13% were environmental (hot surroundings without confinement) [1].
In other words, the classic "dog in a hot car" scenario, while real and preventable, accounts for a small fraction of cases. The far more common story is an ordinary dog on an ordinary walk or play session in weather that was too hot for it. The study's memorable framing — dogs don't die just in hot cars — is exactly the message Dubai owners need, because the risk isn't only in obviously reckless situations. It's in the routine ones.
Which pets are most at risk
Heat stroke can affect any animal, but the evidence identifies clear high-risk groups. The same research found that brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds had greater odds of all types of heat-related illness [1]. Breeds like Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, Pugs, Boxers and, among cats, Persians have airways that are far less efficient at cooling — because dogs and cats shed most of their heat by panting, and flat-faced anatomy makes panting far less effective.
Other elevated-risk groups: overweight and obese pets (fat insulates and increases the metabolic heat load); large and giant breeds; very young and senior pets (less efficient temperature regulation); pets with heart or respiratory conditions; and thick, double-coated breeds. If your pet falls into any of these groups, the thresholds below should be treated as even more conservative.
Know the signs — and the emergency threshold
A pet's normal body temperature is higher than ours, around 38–39.2°C. Heat stroke is a rapidly progressing emergency, and outcomes depend heavily on how fast it's recognized and cooled.
Early and moderate signs: heavy, frantic panting; bright red gums and tongue; excessive drooling, thick and ropey; restlessness or distress; rapid heartbeat. As it worsens: weakness, stumbling or an unsteady gait; vomiting or diarrhea (sometimes with blood); pale or bluish gums; collapse; disorientation; seizures; and loss of consciousness. Severe heat stroke causes multi-organ damage and can be fatal within a short window.
Do not wait to see if it passes. If you suspect heat stroke, begin cooling immediately and get to a veterinarian — this is one of the true "minutes matter" emergencies in pet health.
Emergency first aid: the first critical minutes
If your pet is overheating, the goal is to start cooling now, on the way to veterinary care — not instead of it.
Move the pet to shade or air conditioning immediately. Offer small amounts of cool (not ice-cold) water if they can drink, but never force it. Wet the body with cool — not ice-cold — water, focusing on the belly, groin, armpits and paw pads, and keep air moving over them with a fan or breeze to aid evaporation. Do not use ice or ice-cold water, and do not wrap the pet in wet towels and leave them on: extreme cold causes surface blood vessels to constrict, which can trap heat in the core and worsen the situation, and a trapped wet towel becomes an insulating blanket. Cool actively but stop once the pet is improving to avoid over-cooling, and call your veterinarian and go — even if the pet seems to recover, because internal organ damage can appear hours later and needs professional assessment.
Prevention: the Dubai summer plan
Because most heat stroke is exertional and preventable, prevention is mostly about timing and judgment.
Re-time exercise. In a Dubai summer, walk and exercise your dog in the early morning or after dark, when both air and ground are coolest — and even then, keep it shorter and gentler than in winter. Midday walks in peak summer are a genuine hazard, not a small compromise.
Test the pavement. Asphalt and sand absorb enormous heat and can burn paw pads and radiate heat upward long after the air feels bearable. Use the seven-second test: place the back of your hand on the ground for seven seconds. If you can't hold it there comfortably, it's too hot for your pet's paws — walk on grass, in shade, or wait.
Never leave a pet in a parked car, even briefly and even with windows cracked. Interiors heat to lethal levels within minutes, and this remains one of the fastest ways a pet dies of heat — it's just not the only one.
Manage the whole environment. Ensure constant access to shade and multiple sources of fresh water; keep pets in air-conditioned or well-ventilated spaces during peak heat; and be extra cautious with the high-risk groups above. Keeping your pet lean genuinely reduces heat risk, since obesity worsens heat tolerance.
Don't shave double-coated dogs to "cool them down." A double coat insulates against heat as well as cold and protects against sunburn; shaving it can increase the risk of sunburn and impair natural temperature regulation. Ask your groomer or vet about appropriate summer grooming instead.
A note on cats
Cats are less often walked, so exertional heat stroke is rarer — but indoor cats are not immune, especially in homes where air conditioning fails or a cat gets trapped in a hot enclosed space like a sunroom, balcony or car. Flat-faced breeds such as Persians are more vulnerable. Provide cool retreats, fresh water in multiple spots, and good ventilation, and watch for open-mouth breathing or panting in a cat — which is abnormal and warrants urgent veterinary attention.
The takeaway
The most dangerous myth about heat stroke is that it only happens to negligent owners who leave pets in cars. The evidence says otherwise: it most often happens to caring owners on a normal walk in weather that was simply too hot. In Dubai, that reframes the whole summer. Adjust the timing, test the ground, respect your pet's risk profile, and know the emergency steps cold — because with heat stroke, the difference between a scare and a tragedy is often measured in minutes.
Frequently asked questions
When is pavement too hot to walk a dog? Use the seven-second test: press the back of your hand flat on the ground for seven seconds. If you can't hold it there comfortably, it's too hot for your dog's paw pads — walk on grass or in shade, or wait. Asphalt and sand hold heat long after the air feels bearable [1].
What time should I walk my dog in Dubai summer? Early morning or after dark, when both air and ground are coolest — and keep sessions shorter and gentler than in winter. Midday walks in peak summer are a genuine hazard, because most canine heat stroke is triggered by exercise, not by hot cars [1].
What are the first signs of heat stroke in a dog? Heavy, frantic panting; bright red gums and tongue; thick, ropey drooling; restlessness. As it worsens: weakness, stumbling, vomiting, pale or bluish gums, collapse or seizures. This is a "minutes matter" emergency — begin cooling and get to a vet immediately [1].
Should I shave my double-coated dog to keep it cool? No. A double coat insulates against heat as well as cold and protects against sunburn; shaving it can increase sunburn risk and impair natural temperature regulation. Ask your vet or groomer about appropriate summer grooming instead.
Can indoor cats get heat stroke in Dubai? Yes — especially if air conditioning fails or a cat is trapped in a hot enclosed space like a sunroom, balcony or car. Flat-faced breeds such as Persians are more vulnerable. Panting or open-mouth breathing in a cat is abnormal and warrants urgent veterinary attention [1].
Stay ahead of summer risk with Stay
Stay factors your pet's breed, body condition and risk profile into personalized guidance — so you know whether your dog or cat sits in a higher-risk group before the temperature spikes. Join the Stay waitlist.
Important note
This article is general guidance, not a substitute for emergency veterinary care. If you suspect heat stroke, begin cooling and contact a veterinarian immediately. Temperature figures for a pet's normal range and cooling technique reflect general veterinary guidance; always follow your veterinarian's direction for your individual pet.
References
- Hall EJ, Carter AJ, O'Neill DG. Dogs Don't Die Just in Hot Cars — Exertional Heat-Related Illness (Heatstroke) Is a Greater Threat to UK Dogs. Animals. 2020;10(8):1324. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/8/1324
- Hall EJ, Carter AJ, O'Neill DG. Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016. Sci Rep. 2020;10:9128. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-66015-8
- Hall EJ, et al. Risk Factors for Severe and Fatal Heat-Related Illness in UK Dogs — A VetCompass Study. Vet Sci. 2022;9(5):231. https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/9/5/231