19/06/2026
🔥 HEATSTROKE IN DOGS – KNOW THE SIGNS & WHAT TO DO 🔥
With rising temperatures, heatstroke is becoming a real danger for our dogs. It happens when their body temperature goes above 40°C and they can’t cool down on their own.
Dogs most at risk:
• Flat‑faced breeds (e.g., pugs, bulldogs)
• Thick‑coated breeds
• Overweight or older dogs
• High‑energy dogs that don’t slow down in hot weather
🚨 Signs of Heatstroke
If you spot any of these, act fast:
• Bright red gums or tongue
• Excessive panting or struggling to breathe
• Thick drooling
• Stumbling or confusion
• Lethargy or collapse
• Very high body temperature
• Rapid pulse
• Muscle tremors
• Vomiting (sometimes with blood) or diarrhoea
• Loss of consciousness
👉 Move your dog out of the sun, start cooling them immediately, and call your vet. Heatstroke can be fatal.
💧 How to Cool a Dog with Heatstroke
• Move them into shade
• Pour cool (not icy) water over their body
• Use a wet sponge on ears and paws
• Don’t cover them with wet towels — it traps heat
• Put them in front of a fan if you can
• Place a wrapped ice pack on their groin, armpits, belly, or spine
• Offer small sips of cool water if they’re conscious
• Wet their paw pads regularly
📞 Call your vet once cooling has started. Early cooling saves lives.
❌ What NOT to do
• Don’t dunk them in ice‑cold water — it can cause shock
• Don’t give ice cubes to a very unwell or overheated dog — choking risk
• Stick to cool drinking water only
