Pets in the Spanish climate: heat, pavements and local parasites

Key rules

• Parked cars: Never leave a pet in a parked car, even briefly, and call 112 if you see an animal trapped.
• Hot ground: If the back of your hand cannot stay on the pavement for 5 seconds, it is too hot for paws.
• Heatstroke: Cool the animal gradually with cool water and go to a vet urgently, even if it seems to recover.
• Sandfly season: Start repellent before spring and keep dogs indoors at dusk and night until autumn.
• Vet plan: Ask a local vet for a year-round plan covering leishmaniasis, heartworm, ticks and fleas.

The short version

Heat and parasites are the two big risks for pets in Spain. In summer, protect your pet from cars, hot ground and midday sun. All year, ask a local vet to set up parasite protection. Dogs are most at risk, but cats need some of the same care.

Never leave a pet in a parked car

Do not leave a pet in a parked car, even for a few minutes. The inside can pass 50 °C within minutes. Leaving an animal in a vehicle in conditions that harm it is banned under the 2023 animal welfare law, and animal abandonment or mistreatment can be a criminal offence. Fines are set by regional and local rules and can be large.

If you see an animal or child trapped in a hot car, call 112. The police can authorise forced entry in an emergency.

Protect paws from hot ground

On a hot day with air at about 35 °C, dark asphalt can reach roughly 60-70 °C. Paw pads burn at around 50-55 °C.

• Hold the back of your hand on the surface for 5 seconds. If it is too hot for you, it is too hot for your dog.
• Walk early in the morning or late in the evening.
• Choose grass or shade. Avoid asphalt, sand and metal.
• Carry water and keep walks short. Do not exercise your dog hard in the heat.

Take extra care with flat-faced breeds, puppies, older dogs and overweight dogs.

Spot and treat heatstroke

Watch for heavy panting, drooling, bright red or pale gums, a fast heartbeat, weakness, vomiting or diarrhoea, unsteadiness, collapse, seizures and a temperature over about 40 °C. Flat-faced, elderly, overweight and long-haired animals are at greater risk.

If you see these signs:

1. Move the animal at once to shade or a cool place.
2. Wet it with cool water, not ice-cold. Focus on the belly, paws and neck, and fan it.
3. Offer small amounts of water.
4. Go to a vet urgently, even if it seems to recover.

Sandflies and leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis is a serious disease spread by the bite of sandflies. It is found across mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands. It is most common on the Mediterranean coast, in the Ebro valley, Andalusia, Extremadura, Madrid and the central plateau. The Canary Islands have had cases, though fewer. The north is lower risk, but cases are increasing.

Sandflies are mostly active from about May-June to October-November, at dusk and at night. Dogs are the main carriers. Cats and people can be affected, at lower risk.

Spanish vets commonly advise:

• A repellent collar or spot-on treatment, started before sandfly season in spring and kept up through autumn.
• Keeping your dog indoors at dusk and at night.
• A yearly test. A vaccine can be given after a negative test, with yearly boosters.

Other parasites

Heartworm is spread by mosquitoes and is common in the south, on the coast and in the Canary Islands. Vets usually prescribe monthly tablets or chews, or a 6- or 12-month injection, for mosquito season or all year.

For ticks and fleas, vets use chews or collars, usually every 1 to 3 months. In mild areas, give them all year. Cats need flea and tick control and, in some cases, heartworm control.

The vet sets the product, schedule and price for your animal and area. The timeline below shows the usual order through the year.

Timeline and deadlines

• Keep your dog indoors and renew repellent protection: at dusk and night, through to autumn

• Give heartworm prevention tablets or chews: monthly during mosquito season, or all year; injections last 6 or 12 months

• Give tick and flea chews or replace the collar: every 1 to 3 months, year-round in mild areas

• Repeat the leishmaniasis test and vaccine booster: every year

What to watch out for

• Hot pavements burn paws: Dark asphalt can reach 60-70 °C on a hot day, well above the 50-55 °C that burns paw pads. Walk early morning or late evening, stay on grass or shade, and test the ground with the back of your hand for 5 seconds.

• Heatstroke: Heavy panting, drooling, weakness, vomiting, unsteadiness or collapse mean heatstroke. Flat-faced, elderly, overweight and long-haired animals are at greater risk. Move your pet to shade, wet it with cool water on belly, paws and neck, offer small sips, then go to a vet urgently even if it seems to recover.

• Leishmaniasis from sandflies: Sandfly bites at dusk and night, from about May-June to October-November, spread leishmaniasis, which is found across mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands. Use a repellent collar or spot-on, keep your dog indoors at dusk and night, and ask your vet about testing and vaccination.

Frequently asked questions

Can I leave my dog in the car for a few minutes in summer?

No, you should never leave a dog in a parked car, even briefly, because the inside can pass 50 °C within minutes. Spanish animal welfare law bans leaving animals in vehicles in conditions that harm them, and fines set by regions and towns can be large.

How can I tell if the pavement is too hot for my dog's paws?

Hold the back of your hand on the surface for 5 seconds: if it is too hot for you, it is too hot for your dog. Dark asphalt on a 35 °C day can reach 60-70 °C, while paw pads burn at around 50-55 °C. Walk early or late, and choose grass or shade.

Which parasite protection do Spanish vets usually recommend for dogs?

Vets commonly recommend year-round parasite control covering leishmaniasis, heartworm and ticks. That usually means a repellent collar or spot-on for sandflies, monthly or injectable heartworm prevention, and tick and flea chews or collars every 1 to 3 months. Your vet sets the exact schedule and tests your dog yearly.