Last Updated: 24/08/2026
Summer Pet Safety Guide: Heat, Parasites, Sun & Storms
Get your pet Summer Ready and protect them from dangers that are unique to our Australian climate.
Author: Dr Belinda Stancombe BVSc (Hons)
Reading Time: 7 minutes - short read
Summer is just around the corner! Longer days and warmer weather mean more time outdoors with your dog or cat - but our Australian climate brings some real hazards too. Our vets have put together this guide to the parasites, sun exposure, storms, grooming and heat risks your pet faces every summer, with links to our full guides on each topic if you want to go deeper.
Which parasites are the biggest risk to pets in summer?
1. Ticks
Very high risk. Paralysis ticks are most active in Spring and Summer, and are one of the most dangerous Australian parasites due to the deadly paralysis condition they cause. They're most common within 100km of the Eastern coastline, from Melbourne to North Queensland.
Read our full guide to identifying paralysis ticks.
2. Fleas
High risk. Warm weather is peak flea breeding season, and by summer numbers are at their highest. They're notoriously hard to spot directly on your pet - flea dirt (the dark specks of digested blood in their droppings) in the fur around the tail base or chin is usually the first giveaway.
Learn more about fleas and their life cycle.
3. Heartworm
Moderate-high risk. Mosquito activity peaks in summer, and heartworm's slow life cycle means prevention needs to be consistent, with no gaps.
Learn more about heartworm.
4. Intestinal worms
Moderate risk. These pose a threat all year round, so keep prevention up to date regardless of season.
Learn more about intestinal worms in dogs and in cats.
5. Mites
Low risk in summer. Mites are more of a winter or year-round issue overall, but summer humidity and time spent swimming can still flare up ear mites and skin irritation in some pets, so it's worth checking ears and skin if your pet's scratching more than usual.
In clinic, the parasite mistake we see most often is owners pausing monthly prevention in the cooler months. Skipping parasite prevention in cooler months sets up a summer disaster. Ticks are a danger as early as late winter, and unmanaged fleas quietly multiply - leaving your pet facing a massive population surge as temperatures peak.
How do I protect my pet from sunburn and sun damage?
Pets with white or light-coloured fur are most at risk of sunburn, thanks to lower pigment levels in their skin. Bull Terriers, Border Collies, Boxers, Dalmatians, Greyhounds, Whippets, and Staffies as well as white coat cats. The most common areas on the body to experience sun damage are their ears, eyelids, nose and belly. Lesions caused by sun exposure can be very uncomfortable, painful and lead to more serious conditions such as cancer.
Avoidance is the best prevention when it comes to sun protection. Keeping your pet indoors or in shaded areas during peak UV radiation times (between 11am-4pm) is best. When you know your pet is going to be exposed, use a pet safe sunscreen and carefully apply to vulnerable areas. In some instances, a UV resistant sunsuit may be the best option for your pet, just make sure you still coat their ears and nose with sunscreen.
How can I help my pet cope with storm anxiety?
Storm season brings trembling, pacing, salivating, hiding and destructive behaviour for many pets. Experts aren't exactly sure why, but suspect a combination of wind, noise, pressure changes, static electricity and low-frequency rumbles is to blame.
Bring your pet inside to a safe, darkened space away from anything they could injure themselves on, and let them go to their own safe spot if they have one. Therapeutic aids - supplements, pheromones, calming diets and anxiety wraps - can help reduce fearfulness, and behavioural desensitisation training can reduce storm sensitivity over time.
Read our full guide, How to Help Your Dog With Storm Phobia, for a step-by-step approach.
Behavioural training such as Counter Conditioning can help your pet become less fearful of storms. This is where you expose them to a stressful stimulus such as Thunderstorms: Help Desensitise Your Pet on Pet Circle's Spotify and reward your pet by giving them treats or playing. Similar to desensitisation, the intensity of the sound can be gradually increased over time as your pet and shows less anxiety.
The most common mistake we see is owners comforting or scolding a distressed pet in the same worried tone - pets read your emotional state during storms more than your words, so calm, neutral body language matters more than what you say.
How should I groom my dog or cat for summer?
Grooming for summer keeps pets cool and comfortable and supports healthy skin and coat. Dogs with double coats - German Shepherds, Labradors, Golden Retrievers and Huskies - shed seasonally; regular brushing with a de-shedding tool reduces the mess and helps them run cooler. Non-shedding breeds, like poodles and poodle crosses, need regular clipping, either professionally or at home.
Read our full guide, How to Groom a Dog.
Cats shed more in the lead-up to summer as they lose their winter undercoat. Daily brushing with a de-shedding tool, followed by a rubber grooming brush or damp cloth, reduces shedding and hairballs and helps keep the coat healthy.
Read our full Cat Grooming Guide.
In clinic over summer, one of the most common grooming-related presentations we see is matting and hot spots behind the ears and under the armpits in double-coated breeds - thorough drying and brushing after bathing and swimming helps to prevent most of these.
How do I keep my pet cool and avoid heatstroke?
Heatstroke is a genuine summer emergency in Australia - even a short period of elevated body temperature can cause irreparable organ and nerve damage. Never leave a pet in a car, even briefly. For full symptoms and emergency first aid, read our guides on heatstroke in dogs, and what to do if you spot a dog locked in a hot car.
Six ways to keep your pet cool:
Keep your pet cool and hydrated this Summer
For our full room-by-room cooling guide, see How to Keep Your Dog Cool in Hot Weather. Planning something active? Check our Spring and Summer Activities Guide for Dogs, the Cat version, or browse more Summer Fun Activities. Want a cooling treat recipe? Try our Homemade Summer Recipes.
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History
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Mon 24 Aug 2026
Edited by Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)Dr Belinda Stancombe BVSc (Hons)
Veterinarian
Dr Belinda graduated from The University of Queensland in 2009 and has worked as a Small Animal Veterinarian for over 10 years in South East Queensland. She also has experience as a telehealh consultant, providing veterinary advice for online customers.She has a special interest in animal behaviour, preventative health, the human-animal bond and internal medicine. Outside of work hours she is closely affiliated with a kitten rescue and is also a devoted carer of orphaned rescue kittens.
