Heatstroke in Dogs: Recognise It, Treat It, Prevent It

A dog with suspected heatstroke needs a veterinarian immediately, even if it seems to recover. Organ damage can continue after the dog cools down. Start cooling first, then go straight to a vet.

Dogs cannot sweat through their skin the way people do. They lose heat mainly by panting, and panting stops working well in hot, humid or still air. Flat-faced breeds such as bulldogs and pugs, overweight dogs, very young or old dogs, and dogs with heart or airway disease overheat fastest — but any dog can develop heatstroke.

Act on the early signs rather than waiting for collapse.

Move the dog into shade or a cool room immediately. Wet the coat thoroughly with cool — not ice-cold — water, especially the belly, groin and paws, and keep air moving over the dog with a fan or by fanning. Offer small amounts of cool water to drink, but do not force it. Then travel to a vet with the car air conditioning on.

Avoid ice and wet towels. Ice-cold water and ice packs can constrict skin blood vessels and slow cooling, and wet towels trap heat as they warm up. Pour cool water over the dog and keep the air moving instead.

Most heatstroke is preventable with a few firm rules.

Owners sometimes wait to see whether a dog settles. With heatstroke, that delay is the difference between a frightening afternoon and a tragedy.