What to Do If Your Dog Gets Overheated

1. Mild heatstroke: symptoms include drooling, acute asthma, and restlessness. You should try to keep the environment cool and ventilated so as to reduce heat. Dogs should have free access to drinking water. If possible, you can also move a dog to a cooler and better ventilated place immediately and take the rectal temperature and record it.

2. Moderate heatstroke: symptoms include difficulty breathing. You can move the animal to a cooler and well-ventilated place. Wiping cool water on the dog's abdomen, four paw pads and the rear neck are recommended. Water at room temperature is better than ice water as this can actually constrict the blood vessels and prevent heat from escaping the body. Please take your dog to the closest veterinary clinic as soon as possible.

3.Severe heat stroke: symptoms include loss of consciousness. You can move the animal to a cooler and well-ventilated place and wipe them with cool water. You can also use alcohol to wipe the abdomen and also the pads of their paws. After this, the dog should be taken directly to the veterinary hospital. During transportation, you should keep the dog’s head down and neck straight in order to keep the airway open and to prevent vomiting.

Reminder:

If a dog is showing signs of suffering from heatstroke (e.g. lethargy, depression, collapse, persistently increased breathing rate and heart rate, vomiting, etc.), you should give the dog first aid QUICKLY and then bring them to the vet IMMEDIATELY. During Transportation, the pet owner should do their best to continue the cooling. This can be achieved by pouring cool water on the dog, putting the dog in an air-conditioned car, fanning the dog and/or wiping the dog with cold cloths during the journey. The pet owner should not wait too long and try to treat it at home – your vet is trained to diagnose and treat heatstroke, as well as any further complications that may arise.