Summer Heat Can Trigger Costly Vet Bills -- Here's How Pet Insurance Can Help

Keep reading Forbes Advisor for the chance to see the answer to your question in one of our upcoming stories. Our editors also may be in touch with follow-up questions. The summer can bring more adventure time with your dog -- but more time in the sun can lead to higher vet costs, too. In the summer, with higher temperatures, dogs spending a lot of time outside playing or exercising can experience heat stroke, a potentially fatal condition. That can lead to a pricey emergency vet visit. Heat stroke can happen to any dog -- but brachycephalic dogs (dogs with short muzzles) are especially prone to it. According to a recent Forbes Advisor analysis, the top three most popular dog breeds are all brachycephalic: * French bulldog * Chihuahua * Shih tzu If you have one of these popular breeds, it's important to protect and supervise them during summer activities to prevent heat stroke. Getting pet insurance can also help protect your wallet if your dog does require a vet visit. What Does an Emergency Vet Visit Cost? Veterinary prices have risen in recent years -- and pet owners are struggling to keep up. More than half (53%) of pet owners said a vet bill of $500 to $2,500 is "impossible" to pay, according to a 2026 survey from Spot Pet Insurance. Emergency room visits can cost more than a typical vet visit. On average, an emergency vet exam for dogs can cost $135, according to CareCredit. Here are other average costs CareCredit found for treatments that a vet may conduct on top of an exam if your dog presents with heat stroke symptoms: * Blood test (CBC): $104 * Blood test (chem panel): $164 * IV catheter and one bag of fluid: $130 * Urine test: $78 That's $611 on average with all those costs combined -- and it can be much higher depending on your dog's condition, especially if they require an overnight hospitalization. An overnight hospitalization itself can cost $619 on average for dogs, according to CareCredit. Best Pet Insurance Companies Having pet insurance can give you peace of mind if your furry friend needs to visit the emergency vet this summer -- or any other season. Depending on your plan, pet insurance companies will reimburse you for a percentage of your qualifying vet expenses. Compare different providers, prices and benefits to find the best deal for you and your pups. Brachycephalic dogs in particular are more prone to other respiratory, eye, dental and skin issues -- so getting pet insurance while your dog is young and healthy can protect them if issues arise later. Bottom Line While you're making summer plans for you and your dog, ensuring they're covered by pet insurance should be on that list since overheating and heat stroke in pets can lead to costly emergency vet visits. Popular brachycephalic breeds like French bulldogs, Chihuahuas and shih tzus are even more prone to heat stroke because of their muzzle structures, so pet insurance could be even more important for them. Forbes Advisor is not a licensed insurance agency. Insurance offerings are provided by CompareCoverage, NPN 20753534 and CA License # 6011227. © 2026 CompareCoverage. All Rights Reserved. Was this article helpful? Share your feedback Send feedback to the editorial team Rate this Article ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Please rate the article Email Please enter valid email address Comments We'd love to hear from you, please enter your comments. Invalid email address Submit This form is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Thank You for your feedback! Something went wrong. Please try again later. Recommended Reading Best Pet Insurance In Your State