08/14/2026
🥵 Heat Stroke in Dogs & Cats — Know the Signs!
Heat stroke is a life-threatening emergency. Pets can overheat quickly, especially when outside, exercising, left in a vehicle, or exposed to high humidity.
🚨 Early warning signs:
* Excessive or heavy panting
* Excessive drooling
* Restlessness or agitation
* Bright red or unusually dark gums
* Increased heart rate
* Weakness or reluctance to move
⚠️ Signs of severe heat stroke:
* Vomiting or diarrhea
* Stumbling, weakness, or collapse
* Confusion or disorientation
* Seizures
* Loss of consciousness
* Abnormal bleeding
* Death
🐾 If you suspect heat stroke, act immediately! Move your pet to a cool, shaded or air-conditioned area and seek emergency veterinary care immediately. Do not wait for symptoms to improve on their own.
❌ NEVER leave your pet in a parked vehicle, even with the windows cracked. Temperatures inside a vehicle can become dangerously hot within minutes.
💦 Prevention is key! Provide plenty of fresh water, shade, and breaks from the heat. Avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest parts of the day, and remember that hot pavement can burn paw pads.
❤️🐶🐱 When in doubt, treat overheating as an emergency. Your pet’s life may depend on it!
