Symptom · Dogs
Heatstroke in dogs: what it means and when to call the vet
Heavy panting, drooling, wobbliness or collapse in warm weather can be heatstroke. Start cooling your dog with cool (not ice-cold) water and go to a vet immediately — heatstroke can kill within an hour.
By Maya HartCommon causes
- Being left in a car — even on a mild day
- Exercise in warm weather
- Flat-faced breeds, overweight and older dogs are most at risk
What you can do at home
- Move to shade and pour cool water over the body, especially the belly and legs
- Use a fan if available; do not cover with wet towels, which trap heat
- Offer small amounts of water
- Keep cooling on the way to the vet
What the vet may do
- Controlled cooling and fluids
- Oxygen
- Monitoring for organ damage over the next days
Prevention
- Never leave a dog in a car in warm weather
- Walk early morning or late evening in summer
- Take water and shade on outings
The details
Dogs cool mainly by panting, which works poorly in humid heat and barely at all in flat-faced breeds. A car on a 22°C day can reach 47°C inside within an hour. Cooling first, then travelling to the vet, gives the best outcome; the old advice to avoid cold water has been revised — cool water is safe and effective.
Questions owners ask
Is heatstroke in dogs an emergency?
Yes — treat it as an emergency and go to a vet now. Go now if you see: heavy panting that doesn’t settle in the shade; bright red or pale gums, thick drool; wobbling, vomiting or diarrhoea; collapse or seizures.
What causes heatstroke in dogs?
Being left in a car — even on a mild day; Exercise in warm weather; Flat-faced breeds, overweight and older dogs are most at risk.
What can I do at home?
Move to shade and pour cool water over the body, especially the belly and legs. Use a fan if available; do not cover with wet towels, which trap heat. Offer small amounts of water. Keep cooling on the way to the vet.
Sources
Tailwise is for general information and is reviewed by veterinary professionals, but it is not a substitute for advice from your own vet, who knows your pet. How we check facts