Keeping your dog safe in the Las Vegas heat

In Las Vegas the sidewalk is often the most dangerous part of a walk. Air temperatures over 100°F are routine for months, and the ground gets much hotter than the air. Dogs walk barefoot, wear a fur coat and cool off mainly by panting, so summer here calls for a different routine.

The ground is hotter than the forecast

The number on your weather app is the air temperature, and the ground can be far hotter. Clark County says asphalt can run 40 to 60 degrees above the air temperature and reach around 160°F, hot enough to burn paw pads in seconds. In June 2024 the National Weather Service office in Las Vegas posted a blacktop reading of 162°F from Henderson. Concrete, crosswalk paint, metal grates and artificial turf all soak up the sun as well.

A quick test before you head out: rest the back of your hand flat on the ground. The Nevada Humane Society suggests seven seconds. If you want to pull your hand away sooner, keep your dog off it.

Plan walks around the sun, not the clock

• The City of Las Vegas suggests keeping pets inside from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. during extreme heat. In practice, that means walking around sunrise or well after sunset, when the pavement has had time to cool.
• Coming off a graveyard shift? A walk at 5 or 6 a.m. is about the best timing you'll get all day.
• Living in a Strip-area or downtown high-rise? If your building's pet area is on a sunny rooftop or deck, feel the surface before your dog stands on it.
• Check the NWS Las Vegas forecast for heat warnings, and shorten or skip walks on the worst days.

Desert trails and parks

The desert trails around the valley are great for dogs in the cooler months. In summer they offer little shade, the rock throws heat back up at you, and the next water fountain may be miles away. Hike early, keep it short and carry more water than you think you need, for both of you. If your dog starts lagging, hunting for shade or lying down, turn back.

A parked car heats up fast

The AVMA's figures show the inside of a parked car getting roughly 19°F hotter within 10 minutes and more than 40°F hotter within an hour. Leaving the windows open a crack hardly changes that. The National Weather Service adds that surfaces such as a dark dashboard can climb well past 180°F. Leaving a dog in the car while you run into the store is never safe here, even for a few minutes.

Nevada covers this in NRS 202.487. It bars leaving a pet unattended in a parked or standing vehicle when conditions, “including, without limitation, extreme heat or cold, present a significant risk to the health and safety of the pet” (NRS 202.487(1)). Breaking that rule is a misdemeanor. Officers and firefighters may remove the pet, and a bystander is protected only under strict conditions, including calling 911 or another agency first and staying with the pet. Clark County's advice is to call 911 or its Animal Protection Services line at (702) 455-7710 rather than break in yourself. In the City of Las Vegas, Animal Protection Services is at (702) 229-6444 (option 2).

Outdoor dogs: the local rules

A shady spot and a water bowl aren't enough once it's past 105°F. When the National Weather Service issues an Extreme Heat Warning and highs are forecast above 105°F, Clark County requires owners of outdoor animals to add active cooling, such as misters, fans, an evaporative cooler or a wading pool. The City of Las Vegas has a similar rule above 105°F and bans tethering dogs during a heat advisory. Wherever you live, the safest plan is to keep dogs inside during the heat of the day.

Which dogs struggle most

According to the ASPCA, short-nosed breeds like pugs and bulldogs, seniors, overweight dogs and dogs with heart or breathing problems have the hardest time. Keep their outings very short. A summer trim can help a heavy-coated dog, but the ASPCA advises against shaving to the skin, since the coat protects from sunburn.

Warning signs to watch for

The ASPCA and AVMA both list signs of overheating, including:

• frantic panting or labored breathing
• heavy drooling
• gums that look unusually red, pale, dry or sticky
• stumbling, weakness, confusion or collapse
• vomiting, diarrhea or seizures

If you see any of these, get your dog out of the heat and call your vet or the nearest emergency clinic straight away. The AVMA and AAHA say to cool with room-temperature or cool water, not ice, and to have a vet check your dog even if it seems to bounce back. Our after-hours emergency guide lists the 4 24-hour emergency clinics in our directory, and you can also find vet clinics near you.

From our directory: summer help near you

If you can't get home for a midday break, a walker or sitter can handle the potty trip and keep walks short and shaded. When you interview them, ask what time they walk in summer and how they check the pavement. Here's how many dog walkers and pet sitters we list in each area:

Counts include businesses based in each area and those that list it in their service area, as of Oct 30, 2026. See all areas.

Our guide to choosing a walker or sitter lists more questions to ask.

Last updated Oct 29, 2026. This guide is general information, not professional, legal or veterinary advice. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.