Heat stroke in dogs: is your dog panting a lot?

What are the symptoms of heat stroke for dogs?

Your dog may be suffering from heat stroke if they display any of these signs:

• Fast, heavy breathing or panting
• A bright red tongue
• Sticky gums
• Excessive drooling
• Vomiting
• Pressing their head to the wall
• Circling
• General restlessness
• Dizziness – your dog may appear lethargic, drowsy or slow

These heat stroke symptoms can belong to other problems or conditions, but the cause is likely to be heat stroke if your dog starts to exhibit them during a hot day.

Prevention: how to avoid heat exhaustion in dogs

With preparation and by knowing how to keep your dog cool, you can drastically reduce the chance of your dog getting heat stroke:

• Ensure your dog has access to shade at all times
• Bring water out on walks, for your dog as well as for you
• Avoid walking your dog at hotter parts of the day
• When out walking your dog, take regular stops in shaded areas 
• Use sun cream on dogs with pale or thin fur
• Don’t walk your dog on a pavement that’s too hot
• NEVER leave your dog alone in the car

Vet's view

By Lizzie Youens BSc(Hons) BVSc MRCVS

I was spending a sunny July weekend on-call at the veterinary hospital, and had been hearing the noise of the town summer fete all morning. That afternoon, an elderly pug was rushed in, and I could hear his laboured breathing before I even got into the consulting room. The whole family had been at the fete, and although they’d tried to keep their dog cool by leaving out a water bowl and tried to keep him in the shade, he became very lethargic and then suddenly collapsed.

I assessed the dog immediately. Large amounts of thick saliva were coming from the dog's mouth, and his breathing was very laboured and fast. The dog's high heart rate, abnormal gum colour and extremely high rectal temperature confirmed a diagnosis of heat stroke. He was extremely weak and I was very concerned about him. Flat-faced (brachcephalic) dogs are more susceptible to heat-related illness, including heat stroke, and his elderly body was under severe strain.

A busy and worrying few hours followed, with him under continual assessment. Initially, he started to seizure and I thought we might be too late to save him. However, with some intense active cooling with fans, ice packs, cold water and intravenous fluids, as well as some medication to control the seizures and stop the muscle tremors, the dog's vital signs gradually returned to normal. It was a very close call for what should have been a fun day out at the fete. 

My dog has heat stroke. What do I do?

Firstly, don’t panic. Act quickly but stay calm. Visibly worried behaviour will affect your dog and cause their body temperature to rise further.

Seek shade – Your first action should be to remove your dog from any direct sunlight.

Cool first, transport second - Studies have revealed that the best methods to treat heat stroke for dogs are to cool your dog down by immersing them in cold water and using evaporative cooling. Putting a young, healthy dog in water can cool them off rapidly. If your dog is older or has health issues, pour water over them and aim a fan or cool breeze at them.

Offer drinking water – Do this in small amounts so it enters your dog’s body gradually.

Note – You’ll see from these steps that it’s very important to bring water out when walking your dog during summer, and you should avoid walking your dog in the middle of a hot day. Remember, no dog has died from missing a walk.

If dog heat stroke symptoms persist – contact your vet and bring your dog in as soon as you can.

Need more info?

If you’re concerned about keeping your dog protected during hot weather, have a chat with your vet.

Find your nearest vet using our Find a Vet page, or speak to a vet online using Online Vets.