Heatstroke in dogs: the signs, and what to do on the way to the vet
Heatstroke kills dogs every summer, and the deaths mostly follow the same script: the early signs were visible for a while, they looked like "a hot dog being a hot dog", and cooling started too late. Knowing the ladder — and the first response — is genuinely lifesaving knowledge.
The signs, in the order they tend to arrive
- Early: heavy, frantic panting that doesn't settle in the shade; thick drooling; gums turning bright red; restlessness or seeking the ground.
- Worsening: vomiting or diarrhoea; wobbliness or weakness in the back legs; glazed eyes; the dog stops responding normally to you.
- Emergency, immediately: collapse, seizures, gums turning pale or bluish, loss of consciousness.
The flat-faced breeds, overweight dogs, seniors and dogs with heart conditions climb this ladder faster and at lower temperatures — the walking guide covers who's at risk and why.
What to do — cool first, then travel
Current veterinary guidance is "cool first, transport second": starting to cool the dog immediately does more good than arriving at the clinic a few minutes sooner with a dog that's still cooking.
- Move them to shade, or indoors with a fan or air conditioning.
- Pour cool or tepid running water over their body — belly, armpits, groin and paws especially. Not ice-cold: very cold water clamps the skin's blood vessels shut and slows the cooling you're trying to achieve.
- Keep the water moving and the air moving. Continuous pouring plus a fan beats everything else. Don't drape soaked towels and leave them — a warm wet towel sitting on the dog traps heat instead of shedding it.
- Offer small amounts of water to drink — don't force it.
- Then into the car, air conditioning on, and to the vet — calling ahead so they're ready.
Go to the vet even if the dog seems to recover. Heatstroke does its worst damage internally — to kidneys, gut and blood clotting — and that damage can surface hours after the dog looks fine. "Seems okay now" is not the end of a heatstroke; a vet check the same day is.
Cats overheat too — differently
Feline heatstroke is rarer because cats self-limit, but it happens in carriers, hot cars, conservatories and tumble-dryers (check before you close the door — genuinely). The feline alarm signal is simpler than the canine ladder: a cat panting or breathing open-mouthed is an emergency, full stop — see cat breathing fast.
Noticing is the job. Vetalio makes it stick.
Weight, breathing, appetite and medication — tracked at home, turned into trends and honest alerts, and printed on one page your veterinarian can read.
Join the waitlistVetalio is not a veterinary service. This guide is general information, not a diagnosis — when in doubt, call your vet.