What To Do If Your Dog Has Heatstroke?

What To Do If Your Dog Has Heatstroke?

Vet-Approved Emergency Guide Backed by Science

In summer, just 10–15 minutes in the wrong conditions can push a dog’s body over the edge. Heatstroke isn’t just about “getting too hot”—it’s a full-body crisis that develops faster and more often than most owners realize.

According to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (VECCS), heatstroke in dogs has a mortality rate exceeding 50%—mainly due to incorrect or delayed treatment.

✅ A 2016 UK study of over 1,200 canine heatstroke cases found that 74% were preventable with proper owner awareness and cooling interventions.

That’s why PETT2GO offers this science-backed, vet-approved emergency guide—so you can respond with knowledge and confidence when your dog needs you the most.

✅ Why Are Dogs So Vulnerable to Heat?

Unlike humans, dogs can’t sweat over most of their body to release heat. They rely almost entirely on panting and small areas of exposed skin (like paw pads and noses) to dissipate heat.

✅ Data point: Dogs can only lose about 30% of their excess heat via panting (American Veterinary Medical Association).

In hot, humid, or windless environments, this cooling system fails rapidly.

Once a dog’s core body temperature rises above 41 °C (105.8 °F), internal organs begin to deteriorate.

Above 42 °C (107.6 °F), even if the dog survives, long-term damage to the liver, kidneys, or brain is common.

✅ A 2022 study in Vet Record found that using incorrect cooling methods doubled mortality risk in heatstroke cases.

✅ Signs of Canine Heatstroke: Know the Red Flags🚩

One of the biggest dangers is that heatstroke doesn't always look dramatic at first.

⚠️ Early Warning Signs:

• Excessive panting, loud or labored breathing
• Sluggishness, weakness, stumbling
• Bright red or purple tongue
• Sticky drool or thick saliva

⚠️ Advanced Signs:

• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Glassy, unfocused eyes
• Loss of balance or collapse
• Seizures, unresponsiveness, no urine output

✅ Research note: Studies show survival rates plummet when treatment is delayed beyond 30 minutes after onset of symptoms.

If your dog seems “not quite themselves” on a hot day—don’t wait. Assume heat stress is building.

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❌ Common Mistakes That Can Make Things Worse

Mistake 1: Pouring ice water over the dog
Ice water causes blood vessels to constrict—trapping heat inside. It can also trigger rebound hyperthermia, a second wave of overheating.

✅ AVMA warns that rapid vasoconstriction from ice water can make internal cooling less effective.

Mistake 2: Submerging the dog in cold water
For disoriented or weak dogs, this can cause inhalation, pneumonia, or shock.

✅ VECCS clinical guidelines recommend avoiding full immersion unless carefully supervised.

Mistake 3: Forcing large amounts of water
Dogs with heatstroke often have impaired swallowing. Forcing water can lead to choking or water toxicity (especially in small breeds).

✅ Case reports indicate forced oral rehydration caused aspiration in up to 12% of emergency presentations.

✅ What To Do – Vet-Recommended Emergency Protocol

1️⃣ Move your dog immediately to a shaded, well-ventilated area. Avoid enclosed tents, hot cars, or sealed crates.

2️⃣ Apply cool (not icy) wet towels to key areas: underarms, inner thighs, paws, belly.
✔️ Studies show this evaporative cooling method can reduce core temperature by 0.5–1 °C every 5 minutes safely.

3️⃣ Use a fan or natural airflow to aid evaporation. If you have a cooling vest or PETT2GO gear, use it immediately.

4️⃣ Offer small amounts of room-temperature water.
✔️ Let your dog drink voluntarily. Don’t force it.

5️⃣ Even if your dog appears better, go to the vet immediately.
✔️ Organ failure from heatstroke can occur hours to days later.

🧊 PETT2GO Pro Tip: Prevention Starts Before the Walk

Heatstroke rarely happens out of nowhere. It builds up gradually—often unnoticed—until the body can't keep up.

✅ Dogs can overheat even at 21–24 °C (70–75 °F) if humidity is high or airflow is poor.

If your dog pants heavily just from sitting in the sun or walking a short distance—that’s your cue to act early.

Smart preparation:
✔️ Dress your dog in lightweight, breathable, reflective clothing to deflect heat.
✔️ Bring a portable water bottle and offer small sips frequently.
✔️ Choose shady, breezy rest spots (tents must ventilate well).
✔️ Avoid going out during peak midday heat, especially with high-risk groups like brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds, senior dogs, or overweight dogs.

  • Brachycephalic breeds: Bulldogs, Pugs, French Bulldogs, Shih Tzus, Boston Terriers, and similar breeds with short muzzles and narrowed airways that reduce cooling efficiency.

  • Senior dogs: Typically 7 years and older, with reduced cardiovascular and temperature regulation capacity.

  • Overweight dogs: Dogs weighing 15% or more over their ideal body weight, where excess fat traps heat and increases strain on heart and lungs.


✔️ Gradually train heat tolerance—don’t switch from AC directly to extreme heat.

✅ Bottom Line

In a heat emergency, what saves a dog isn’t just love—it’s the right action taken quickly.

At PETT2GO, we’re committed to helping owners with real, evidence-based tools to keep dogs safe. Because summer should be fun—not fatal.

📚 References

  • Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS): “Canine Heatstroke Management”

  • Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (VECCS) Guidelines

  • AVMA: “Managing Heatstroke in Pets”

  • Vet Record (2022): “Cooling Methods and Outcomes in Canine Heatstroke”

  • Veterinary Clinics of North America: “Heat-Related Illness in Companion Animals”

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