Summer in Indianapolis hits differently than the rest of the year. More time outside, more people over, more activity. For your pets, all of that is a mixed bag. The long evenings and backyard hangs are good. The heat, the hot pavement, the food left at nose level, the gate that someone forgot to latch — those are where things can go sideways.
None of this requires dramatic changes to your routine. Mostly it’s just knowing what to watch for, season by season, so summer stays fun for everyone in the household.
Here’s what we keep an eye on.
Heat is the one that sneaks up on you
Dogs cool themselves by panting, not sweating. It’s a much less efficient system than ours, which means they can overheat faster than you’d expect, even on days that don’t feel brutal to you.
If your dog is outside with you, make sure there’s real shade (not just the hope of it), fresh water, and a clear way back inside. Pavement is worth paying attention to specifically: concrete and asphalt hold heat and can burn paw pads well before you’d think to worry about it. A quick check is to press the back of your hand against the surface for seven seconds. If it’s uncomfortable for you, it’s too hot for them.
Brachycephalic breeds (bulldogs, pugs, French bulldogs, Boston terriers) and senior dogs have a harder time in heat than most. Shorter outdoor stretches, more frequent water breaks, and a cool indoor option nearby. That’s the formula.
Grilling season means a new set of hazards at dog level
Summer grills are full of things that look like fair game to a dog and genuinely aren’t. Cooked bones top the list: chicken bones, rib bones, anything that splinters. Corn cobs are a real blockage risk and they go down fast. Skewers, drippings, trash bags left open near the back door — all of it is worth being deliberate about.
Beyond the grill, a few foods are genuinely toxic and worth keeping out of reach entirely: onions, garlic, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, alcohol, and anything sweetened with xylitol (which shows up in a lot of sugar-free condiments and drinks). These aren’t just “might cause an upset stomach” items. Some of them cause serious harm in small amounts.
If you have guests over who aren’t used to being around dogs, a quick heads-up goes a long way. Something like: please don’t feed her, no matter how convincingly she asks. And she will ask!
Water looks fun, but not every dog is a natural swimmer
Lakes, pools, and rivers are popular this time of year, and plenty of dogs love them. Some don’t. And some fall somewhere in the middle: willing to get in, not actually great at getting out.
If your dog is near open water, keep an eye on them. Dog life vests exist, and they’re worth it for deep water or boats. Rinse them off after lake swims (blue-green algae can be toxic, and it’s in Indiana water bodies). And pool owners: dogs need a way to exit the pool that they can actually use. A ramp or a shallow step they can find on their own could matter a lot.
For cats, mostly: keep them away from standing water in the yard and make sure they can’t access the pool unsupervised.
More time outside means more chances to get out
Summer routines mean more door and gate traffic. Guests coming and going, kids running in and out, someone carrying something and not quite closing the latch behind them. This is genuinely how a lot of dogs end up loose, not from any single dramatic moment, but from a small opening at the wrong time.
It’s a good time to confirm that your dog’s ID tag is current and that their microchip registration has your correct phone number. Both things take five minutes to check and the stakes are real. If your dog tends to bolt at the first sign of an open door, a leash on before the guests arrive isn’t overcautious. It’s just smart.
Cats need summer adjustments too
Indoor cats need more water in summer, full stop. If yours isn’t a big drinker, a fountain-style bowl can help. Keep an eye on how much time they’re spending in sunny spots during the heat of the day, especially if your home gets warm. Senior cats and overweight cats are more vulnerable to heat than younger, leaner ones.
For cats who spend time outside, summer is when we see the most trouble: outdoor cats encounter more traffic, more off-leash dogs, and more wildlife during long summer days. If yours goes out, catio setups or supervised outdoor time are genuinely worth considering.
Summer is long and mostly wonderful for pets when they’ve got a household paying attention. We hope your dogs get good morning walks before the heat sets in and your cats find the one perfect cool spot and refuse to move from it all season.
If you need reliable care for your crew while you’re traveling this summer, we’re here. And if this was useful, share it with a fellow pet owner who’s getting ready for the season.
Stay cool, Indianapolis!
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