Heatstroke in dogs. How can you prevent it?

March 23, 2025

Summertime comes with higher temperatures. Since dogs don't sweat, they can have some issues with overheating. However, there are many steps you can take to help your dog stay cools.

 

It’s almost heatstroke time.

Heatstroke time is approaching. It’s spring now, with its warmer weather and outdoor activities.  While we humans are having fun, we want to have fun with our dogs too.  But they have some physical differences that are important to pay attention to. Find out how to keep your dog safe from heatstroke so you can both have fun.

Can dogs cool themselves off?

Dogs don’t sweat, except through the pads of their paws. They pant, which helps them cool off with evaporation, but only does so much. They can change or limit behavior to try to cool down, but they run into difficulties.

Dogs at risk:

– Brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds like pugs or French bulldogs
– Darker colored dogs (since black absorbs heat)
– Heavily muscled dogs (since muscle produces extra heat)
– Very young or very old dogs
– Dogs with other pre-existing health issues
– Very high-drive dogs that don’t self-limit

Heatstroke is a real danger for dogs when they overheat. Planning ahead and using some strategies to keep them cool can make all the difference.

 

What is heatstroke?

If you watch the news or are on social media, you’ve most likely heard of it.  But maybe you don’t know exactly what it is and how to recognize it. Heatstroke, a form of hyperthermia, happens pretty often to dogs since they don’t cool themselves as well as humans do.  

A dog’s normal temp is between 101 and 102.5. This dangerous condition can lead to temps of 106 or even higher!  Temperatures that high can lead to acute (sudden) renal failure, rapid or irregular heart rates, liver damage, and seizures, to name a few issues.  This is an extremely dangerous condition and failure to act can lead to death.

Signs of heatstroke include:

– Panting
– Decreased responsiveness
– Drooling
– Dark red gums
– Confusion and/or anxiety
– Glazed eyes
– Rapid heart rate
– Labored breathing
– Temperature above 103
– Vomiting or diarrhea, possibly with blood in them

If you see these symptoms, you need to try to cool your dog off a.s.a.p.!  What you can do:

– Get them out of the heat
– Let them stand or lay in cool water and bath them in it
– Encourage them to drink cool (not ice cold) water

If these steps don’t get your dog to normal quickly, or if you see seizures, vomiting, diarrhea, or minimal consciousness, you need the vet’s help as quickly as possible. Organ damage starts rapidly and makes rescue much more difficult. Read this post from VeterinaryEmergencyGroup.com for more info.

Recognizing when heatstroke can be a problem can be useful so you know when your dog is at risk.

 

How do you prevent it?

Heatstroke can be prevented if you are prepared. All dogs have the potential to suffer from heatstroke, so you can't just assume your dog will be ok. it’s a good idea to be aware of the weather and risk factors.  If your dog is especially prone to overheat, this becomes vital.

To make sure your outing doesn’t turn into a tragedy:

– Plan an extreme activity for cooler times of the day
– Offer plenty of water
– Limit activity to shorter periods of time during the hot part of the day
– Provide a kiddie pool or other water for cooling off
– Use cooling mats, cooling coats, etc. to keep body temperature at a healthy level. If you want to buy your dog a cool coat, see Made by De for more information and to purchase an effective cool coat. Read this post for more about how a cool coat can help protect your dog.

Summertime is ideal for fun times outside.  With a little planning, it can be great for dog activities too. It pays to be aware. What do you do to help your dog stay cool? Tell me about it in the comments below.

For more ideas for helping your dog, read How to help your anxious dog on this blog.