Heatstroke: dog first aid

What to do

1. Move your dog out of the heat into shade or a cool room right away.
2. Run the coldest water you have from a tap or hose over the body, especially the belly and other thin-haired areas, so it soaks to the skin. Keep water away from the nose and mouth.
3. Use a fan or open windows to make a breeze.
4. Offer cool water to drink if your dog is alert, but don't force it.
5. Call your vet to say you're coming.
6. Without a thermometer, keep cooling for about 15 minutes before you leave. With a rectal thermometer, stop active cooling at about 104°F (40°C).
7. If your dog breathes noisily (snoring or rasping), keep cooling until the panting clearly eases or it reaches 101.5°F (38.6°C), whichever comes first.
8. Pat your dog dry and drive to the vet in a cool, well-aired car.

Signs

• Heavy panting or noisy breathing
• Drooling
• Red gums and tongue
• Weakness or low energy
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Confusion
• Collapse
• Seizures

Why

Heatstroke is life-threatening. The faster a dog is cooled, the better its chance of a full recovery, so cool first, then go to the vet.