The Walking ClubShort answer: if your dog is panting hard, weak, wobbly, or collapsing in the heat, this is an emergency. Move to shade or a cool room, pour cool water over the body, add airflow, and call your vet now.
Heatstroke is dangerous, and it can get worse fast. Treat it as an emergency, not something to watch. The good news is that acting quickly helps a lot: PDSA says the quicker a dog is cooled down, the better the chance of a full recovery. So cool your dog and call your vet right away.
Excessive panting, heavy drooling, fast or hard breathing, weakness, confusion, vomiting, very red or pale gums, seizures, and collapse. PDSA says heatstroke can progress very quickly and, in severe cases, cause seizures, organ damage, and death. Many cases happen during exercise, but a dog can also overheat in a hot room, a conservatory, or a car. For more on this, see My dog is panting hard on a hot walk but wants to keep going. Should I trust them.
Stop the activity. Get your dog into shade or a cool space. Pour water cooler than your dog over the whole body. Use what you have and do not delay for a certain temperature. Keep water away from the nose and mouth. Add airflow with a fan, a breeze, or air conditioning. Offer a drink of cool water, but do not force it. Do not use an ice bath unless your vet tells you to, and do not wrap your dog in a wet towel, which can trap heat. Call your vet as soon as possible and keep cooling on the way.
Even if your dog seems better after cooling, ask your vet to check them. PDSA says heatstroke can cause organ damage, and a dog can look better while that is still happening.
A dog's normal body temperature is about 100.4 to 102.2 F. PDSA says a temperature above 104 F puts a dog at risk of heatstroke.
PDSA lists flat-faced dogs, overweight, giant breed, thick coated, very old, and very young dogs, though any dog can overheat.
Walk in the cooler hours, carry water, and rest in shade. Never leave a dog in a parked car, even briefly. See our hot-day routine for ideas.
This article is general education, not veterinary advice. If your dog seems unwell, is in pain, or something changed suddenly, call your vet. If it could be an emergency, do not wait.
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