15/10/2026
Die heiße Jahreszeit ist zwar jetzt rum und die Teilnehmer meiner Erste Hilfe Kurse kennen es schon, aber hier für alle nochmal. Es gibt neue Leitlinien für die erste Hilfe beim Hitzschlag von Tieren. Früher hat man gesagt langsam abkühlen, heute weiß man das schnelles abkühlen besser ist und die Überlebensrate steigt und die Gefahr von Folgeerkrankungen sinkt.
The goal is to stop the heat exposure, begin active cooling, and get the animal to veterinary care.
𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗚𝗡𝗜𝗭𝗘
Watch for:
• Panting
• Stopping activity, playing, or lying down
• Stumbling or disorientation
• A warm ambient environment
• Take a temperature if possible
𝗔𝗖𝗧
• Stop activity
• Move the animal to a cool location
• Call for help — including a nearby veterinary facility and assistance with transportation
𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗟𝗬 𝗖𝗢𝗢𝗟 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗠𝗔𝗟
• Apply cool running water over the body, emphasizing areas with less fur and soaking through to the skin.
• Avoid applying water directly to the head and neck because of drowning risk.
• Continue cooling for at least 15 minutes, or until the re**al temperature reaches approximately 40°C (104°F).*
• The animal should become calmer and panting should improve.
• Pat the animal dry with a towel afterward.
𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧
After initial cooling:
• Transport safely to the nearest open veterinary hospital.
• Keep the animal in a cool environment during transport, using air conditioning or a fan when available.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲:
𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴.
For a dog or cat with suspected heat stroke, stop the activity, move them somewhere cool, begin active cooling, and arrange immediate veterinary care.
* If the animal has stertor or stridor, you can continue cooling until panting clearly improves or the temperature reaches 38.6°C (101.5°F), whichever comes first. In all cases, stop active cooling once 38.6°C is reached.
These recommendations are from the 2026 RECOVER First Aid Guidelines for Dogs and Cats.
