grovercentervetDiscover the symptoms of a heat stroke in dogs. Learn early signs, advanced signs, immediate first aid and what you can do to prevent your dog from getting hurt.
During the summer, there are more daylight hours, outdoor activities and even more sun. But there’s an unseen and deadly threat to our furry friends with the hot weather, and that’s hyperthermia. Knowing what to look for with heat stroke in dogs is a very important skill to have, as it can become a life-threatening medical emergency in just minutes.
Dogs cannot do this as easily as humans, because they don’t have sweat glands all over their bodies to cool them off through evaporation. Their only way to dissipate excess heat is through panting, and a few sweat glands on their paw pads. These cooling mechanisms easily fail during periods of high temperature and moisture.
This complete resource will explain the earliest, later and most serious symptoms of heat stroke in dogs, and equip you with the information you need to know about this serious condition and the importance of acting quickly and decisively to save your dog’s life.
1. Early Warning Signs of Heat Stress
In the initial phase of heat exhaustion, an animal’s body goes through a transition period before it enters into heat stroke. If you can see the indicators of heat stroke in your dog at this point, you will have the highest chance of reversing the situation without any lasting effects.
Unrelenting, Heavy Panting
The dog’s main cooling system is panting. Normal panting – heat-induced however looks relaxed. A dog in its initial phases of heat stress will pant loudly, rapidly and harshly, in contrast. The tongue will be extended—extending the tongue has been found to increase the surface area available for cooling and is an instinctive response to avoid heat, so the tongue will usually be fully extended, appearing unusually wide and long, with the edges of the tongue turned up in a desperate attempt to increase the heat transfer.
Excessive Drooling and Thick Saliva
As the temperature inside the dog’s body rises, the dog will try to get rid of excess heat by producing a tremendous amount of saliva. There will be drooling, frequently leading to puddles on the floor. Once they become dehydrated, this saliva turns clear and watery to extremely thick, sticky and rope-like, clinging to the sides of their mouth.
2. Advanced Signs of Heat Stroke in Dogs
Within minutes, if the dog is not taken to a cool place and watered, his temperature will climb above 103°F (39.4°C) and enter the “danger zone”. Physiological signs are now much more evident.
Unusual Gum and Tongue Color Changes
- Healthy Gums: PINK, moist and bubble gum.
- Heat Stroke Gums: Will be dark, vivid red, bright purple or muddy grayish-blue.
This is an extreme blood vessel dilation in order to expel heat through the mouth. The gums can even feel very dry or sticky.
Glazed Eyes and Expressions of Discomfort
An advanced dog will show signs of panic or confusion. They might look glassy, bloodshot and wide-eyed. Often they will look unresponsive, and not react to your voice or commands as they should.
3. Critical Neurological and Systemic Failure
Once the dog’s body temperature hits or surpasses 106°F (41.1°C), cell damage is starting to happen in its internal organs. When the dog passes this point, symptoms of heat stroke become a sign of serious systemic dysfunction.
Lethargy, Weakness, and Collapse
A dog that is overheated will be losing co-ordination. They may have a wobbling gait or may stumble, or seem as if their back legs are suddenly weak. The dog will not be able to get up off the floor as it becomes very weak and depressed.
Vomiting and Diarrhea
The mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract is easily damaged by severe internal heating. Often presents with sudden onset of acute vomiting or diarrhoea. If their vomiting or feces is bright red, it means that they are experiencing dangerous internal sloughing of the intestinal lining.
Seizures and Unconsciousness
The animal will have neurological episodes as the brain begins to swell due to the extreme heat. It may involve trembling of muscles in a part of the body, convulsions of the whole body, paddling of the limbs or falling into a coma or complete unconsciousness.
Hyperthermia Symptoms Progression Matrix
Use this progression matrix of the signs of heat stroke in dogs to help you quickly assess if it’s a hot pup or a medical emergency.
Stage of Condition
Primary Behavioral Signs
Physical Cues to Watch For
Urgency Level
Normal Warmth
Seeking shade, lying on cool tile, moderate panting
Pink, moist gums; normal clear saliva
Normal Care
Early Heat Stress
Pacing, mild distress, reluctance to move
Extremely fast/loud panting, heavy watering drool
Moderate Warning (Cool down immediately)
Advanced Heat Stroke
Disorientation, dizziness, stumbling, weakness
Dark red or purple gums, thick ropey saliva, glassy eyes
Severe Emergency (Apply first aid, call vet)
Critical Organ Failure
Collapse, inability to stand, unresponsiveness
Vomiting/diarrhea (often bloody), seizures, coma
Life-Threatening (Rush to emergency clinic)
Immediate First Aid Actions for Heat Stroke
If your dog is displaying any advanced or critical signs of heat stroke in dogs, you must begin cooling them down manually before you even put them into the car to drive to the clinic.
1.Change to a Shade or AC:Environment Shift.
Immediately get your dog out of the direct sunlight. Transport them to a well-ventilated room with air conditioning or at least to a shaded outdoor area where the wind is blowing. If available, put them directly in front of an electric fan.
2.Always use Cool Water, Never Ice:Cooling Method.
Run cool or lukewarm tap water over their body, taking care to moisten their back, underarms, neck and groin. Ice cold water / ice baths should not be used. The heat stroke becomes much worse because the heat has been enclosed in the core organs and the surface blood vessels have contracted, trapping the heat.
3.Offer Water, Do Not Force It:Hydration Check.
If your dog is conscious and able to swallow, try giving him some fresh, cool water to drink. Do not force water into an unconscious dog’s throat or the dog is very lethargic, because it may end up aspirating the water into the lungs and drown or develop pneumonia.
4.Track temperature and transport:Transit Readiness.
If you have a digital rectal thermometer, check their temperature. If their temperature falls below 103°F (39.4°C), discontinue the use of the water cooling application to prevent them from becoming hypothermic. Place them in an ice-cooled truck and head directly to an emergency veterinarian.
High-Risk Factors to Keep in Mind
While any dog can succumb to high temperatures, certain factors make specific dogs drastically more susceptible to hyperthermia:
- Brachycephalic Breeds (Flat-Faced Dogs): Pugs, Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, and Boxers have severely shortened airways. It is very hard for them to exchange air efficiently; they can get heat stroke in dogs at lower temperatures than the long-nosed ones.
- Age and Physical Condition: Blood flow to the skin surface for dissipating heat is limited in elderly dogs, young puppies and obese dogs, which are unable to pump blood around their bodies as efficiently.
- Thick/ Dark Coats: Heavy double coats (such as Huskies or Malamutes) retain heat like an insulation blanket and dark fur absorbs solar radiation much quicker than light colored fur.
Conclusion
It is an essential part of being a responsible dog owner to be able to recognize the signs of heat stroke in dogs. Our dogs are unconditional lovers, and will often keep playing a game of catch with a ball or keep following a hike even when they’re starting to get hot, just to please us. We have to be their voice, their protectors and their regulators.
Being hyper-aware of your pet’s panting pattern, paying attention to signs of their gum color during summertime outings, avoiding high-risk exercise in the middle of summer, and with first-aid cool water in case of trouble, you’ll keep your favorite companion safe, happy and healthy this summer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Is it possible for a dog to suffer from heatstroke in a house?
A: Yes, absolutely. Without adequate ventilation, air conditioning or airflow, the internal temperatures in a house can rapidly climb. This can be particularly harmful for at-risk dogs remaining in sun rooms, rooms with large windows which do not have blinds or shatter-resistant film, or in the upper levels of a house during a heat wave.
Q2: How fast can dog heat stroke kill a dog?
A: Heatstroke can be fatal in just 15-20 minutes. When a dog’s body temperature rises out of control, due to a failure of his or her body’s panting system, a mild heat exhaustion can lead to fatal organ failure in a matter of moments.
Q3: If a dog is suspected of being in heat stroke should I wrap them in wet towels?
A: No, don’t wrap them in wet towels. A wet towel placed over a dog’s body is beneficial at first but then serves as a trapping blanket when water boils up the dog’s body and stays there. Alternatively, drench them with water that is running, and feed them with an open fan fanning the air onto their skin.
Q4: What is the highest safe temp it is OK for dogs to walk outside at?
A: Outside temperatures above 85° F (29.4°C) pose a serious risk for heat stress, in general. Also, asphalt pavement can get much hotter than the air and can cause your dog’s paw pads to blister and burn on contact.
Q5: What is the reason that it is not safe to give ice water to a dog who has heat stroke?
A: Ice cold water will make the small blood vessels close up (vasoconstriction) close to the skin’s surface. This forms an insulating layer which keeps the superheated core blood away from the skin surface so that it never gets the chance to cool down, thus rendering their internal organs ‘cooked’ from inside out.
