The Hidden Danger of Humidity for Dogs—and How to Protect Yours

It’s old news that hot weather can be dangerous for dogs, but other environmental factors play into your dog overheating. It’s especially important to monitor your dog in hot, humid weather. We know that humidity can make heat almost unbearable for us, but how does humidity affect dogs?

Learn more about how humidity affects dogs and how to keep your dog safe this summer.

Heat vs. Humidity

When a dog gets too hot, they will try to cool down by panting, sweating from their paws, drinking water, and seeking shade. Humidity decreases how effective a dog’s self-cooling mechanisms are. If it’s humid outside, there will be less evaporation from their panting and paw sweating to help cool them down.

Why Humidity Can Be Dangerous for Dogs

Although dogs do sweat from their paws, panting is the primary way dogs regulate heat. When a dog pants, the air moves over the moist surfaces in their mouth and respiratory tract. As the air moves, it evaporates moisture from these surfaces, which helps cool the dog by removing heat from these surfaces.

Because there is less evaporation when the dog pants in humid weather, panting is less effective at cooling the dog.

For this reason, some dogs are at a higher risk of overheating in hot, humid weather. Dogs who are brachycephalic (flat-faced) may already have respiratory challenges that are exacerbated by hot, humid weather. Senior dogs and puppies may also struggle to regulate their temperature in these conditions.

Lastly, some health conditions may increase the risk of heat exhaustion for dogs in humid weather, including:

Recognizing Signs of Heat Stress

A dog who is beginning to overheat will show the following symptoms:

• Panting
• Sweating from the paws
• Seeking shade
• Drinking water
• Increased drooling

If these are the only symptoms you are seeing, you can usually cool your dog down by bringing them inside, giving them water, and keeping them calm. You may turn on a fan or place them on a cooling mat.

The following are signs of heatstroke. Heatstroke requires emergency veterinary attention:

• Red gums and/or tongue
• Collapse
• Disorientation
• Vomiting

Preventive Measures for Humid Weather

It’s best to plan ahead for how to keep your pet safe in humid weather. The following are tips to keep your pet comfortable inside your home:

• Turn the A/C on and set it to a dog-friendly temperature. Generally, 75–78°F is a safe starting point in the summer.
• Use a dehumidifier.
• Turn on ceiling fans or place fans near your dog’s resting places.
• Give your dog access to cool surfaces like tile floors or cooling mats.

If your dog will be going outside, make sure:

• You limit and supervise their time outdoors.
• They have access to water and shade.

When Humidity Is Especially Concerning

Environmental conditions that may increase your dog’s risk higher in humid weather include:

• Little to no air flow
• Direct sun with no option for shade

Other dog-specific factors that may compound your dog’s response to hot, humid weather include:

• Activity level: A dog who is exercising is more likely to overheat.
• Body condition: Obese dogs are more susceptible to heat stress.
• Breed and fur length: Dogs with dark, heavy coats may experience more heat stress. However, double-coated dogs may actually trap cool air closer to their bodies, improving their heat tolerance. Brachycephalic dogs like pugs and French bulldogs are at an increased risk of heat stress in humid weather.
• Age: Newborn puppies and senior dogs are more susceptible to the effects of heat and humidity.
• Health conditions: Some health conditions like heart disease or kidney disease decrease a dog’s tolerance for hot, humid days.
• Frequent time outside: Dogs who have not properly adjusted to hot weather are more likely to experience heat stress than dogs who spend a little time outside daily.

Keep Your Pet Safe in Humid Weather

When trying to decide if a day is too hot for your pet, make sure to take the humidity into account. Know your pet’s individual risk so that you can adjust your pet’s care routines to keep them safe year-round. If you have any concerns about your pet’s susceptibility to heat stress, make sure to speak with your veterinarian.