Pet Travel & Care Guides

Heatstroke is a life-threatening emergency. It can follow hot or humid weather, strenuous exercise, confinement in a warm space, or overheating in dogs that cannot cool themselves efficiently. Start cooling immediately and arrange emergency veterinary transport; do not wait several hours to see whether the dog improves.

Emergency signs: heavy or distressed panting, excessive drooling, weakness, confusion, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, breathing difficulty, seizures or collapse.

What to Do Right Away

1. Move the dog out of the heat into shade, air conditioning or another cooler area.
2. Start cooling immediately with cold tap water over the body, making sure it reaches the skin on thick-coated dogs. Keep water away from the nose and mouth so it is not inhaled. Do not delay cooling while trying to find water at a particular temperature.
3. While cooling, have someone call the nearest veterinary emergency clinic and arrange transport; if you are alone, use speakerphone if possible.
4. Create air movement with a fan, vehicle ventilation or air conditioning while cooling and during transport.
5. Offer small amounts of water only if the dog is alert and able to drink; do not force water into the mouth.
6. Continue to the veterinary hospital even if the dog appears to improve. Organ injury and clotting problems can develop after the temperature starts falling.

Current evidence-based guidance is often summarised as “cool first, transport second,” meaning that effective cooling should begin immediately before and continue during the trip—not that veterinary care should be delayed.

What Not to Do

• Do not delay care for two or three hours while monitoring at home.
• Do not drape the dog in wet towels. A towel lying over the body can warm up and trap heat; flowing water plus air movement cools more effectively.
• Do not apply alcohol to the paws, belly or coat. It is not needed for effective cooling and can create additional exposure risk.
• Do not use chest pounding, abdominal massage or other improvised techniques.
• Do not force an exhausted, confused or unconscious dog to drink.

Which Dogs Need Extra Caution?

Any dog can develop heatstroke. Risk is higher in flat-faced breeds, older or overweight dogs, dogs with heart or breathing disease, very young dogs, and dogs with thick or dark coats. High humidity reduces the effectiveness of panting. A dog can also overheat in a vehicle or enclosed space on a day that does not feel extremely hot.

Practical Prevention

• Walk in the cooler morning or evening and reduce intensity during heat or humidity.
• Provide shade, airflow and frequent access to fresh water.
• Never leave a dog unattended in a vehicle.
• Test pavement with your own skin and choose grass or shade when surfaces are hot.
• Build fitness gradually and stop when panting becomes unusually heavy or the dog slows down.
• Carry water and know the route to the nearest veterinary emergency service.

Plan lower-risk outings with our guide to safer dog walking. After wet or muddy outdoor activity, use the gentle cleanup steps in keeping your dog clean on walks rather than adding heat through vigorous drying.

Sources and Further Guidance

• Royal Veterinary College: Cool first, transport second
• Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: Summer heat safety

This article provides general emergency information and does not replace immediate veterinary care.