08/21/2026
☀️🐾 HEAT SAFETY FOR PETS: KNOW THE SIGNS! 🐾☀️
Hot weather can become dangerous for our furry friends very quickly. Dogs and cats don’t cool themselves the same way we do, and heat exhaustion can progress to life-threatening heatstroke.
🔥 SIGNS OF HEAT-RELATED ILLNESS
Watch for:
🐾 Excessive or nonstop panting
🐾 Heavy drooling or thick/sticky saliva
🐾 Bright red or unusually pale gums/tongue
🐾 Rapid heartbeat
🐾 Weakness, wobbling or difficulty standing
🐾 Restlessness or appearing distressed
🐾 Vomiting or diarrhea
🐾 Confusion or disorientation
🐾 Collapse
🐾 Tremors or seizures
🐾 Loss of consciousness
🚨 Heatstroke is a medical emergency! If your pet is showing severe symptoms, begin cooling measures and contact a veterinarian or emergency veterinary hospital immediately.
💦 BASIC FIRST AID
❤️ 1. Get them out of the heat.
Move your pet into air conditioning or a cool, shaded, well-ventilated area.
💧 2. Begin cooling them gradually.
Wet the pet with cool or lukewarm water—not ice-cold water, concentrating on areas such as the belly, paws and groin. A fan can help increase cooling.
🥤 3. Offer small amounts of cool water.
Let them drink if they are alert and able, but do not force water into their mouth.
🧊 4. Avoid ice baths or extremely cold water.
Rapid, extreme cooling can be harmful. The goal is controlled cooling while getting veterinary help.
🏥 5. Seek veterinary care.
Even if your pet seems to recover, heatstroke can cause internal complications that aren’t immediately obvious. Call your veterinarian for guidance and transport your pet for emergency evaluation when heatstroke is suspected.
🚗 REMEMBER: Never leave a pet inside a parked vehicle—even with the windows cracked. On warm days, pavement can also become hot enough to burn paw pads.
🐶🐱 PREVENTION IS THE BEST PROTECTION!
Keep fresh water available, provide plenty of shade, limit strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day, and be especially careful with puppies, senior pets, overweight pets and flat-faced breeds.
💛 Please SHARE this post!
Knowing the signs and what to do could help save a pet’s life.
🐾 Keep them cool. Keep them hydrated. Keep them safe. ☀️💦