Heat exhaustion and heat stroke can look similar at first, but heat stroke is a life-threatening emergency that can damage your dog’s organs. Heat exhaustion may cause heavy panting, thirst, drooling, and weakness. Heat stroke can bring those signs along with confusion, staggering, collapse, or seizures.
The distinction is not always obvious, and heat exhaustion can progress quickly. If your dog seems overheated, move them to a cool place and call a veterinarian right away. Do not wait for severe symptoms to appear.
A dog with heat exhaustion may pant heavily and have trouble settling down, even after leaving the heat. You may also notice:
These signs warrant a prompt call to your veterinarian. Vomiting, diarrhea, or worsening weakness can also occur with heat stroke, so you should not rely on symptoms alone to judge severity.
Heat stroke is especially concerning if your dog is disoriented, stumbles, collapses, or has a seizure. Their gums may appear very red, pale, or bluish, and they may vomit or have bloody diarrhea. Heavy panting can give way to abnormal breathing as their condition worsens.
A body temperature above 104°F is concerning, and temperatures around 106°F or higher can indicate heat stroke. You cannot reliably diagnose it by touch, though, and you should not delay cooling or veterinary care to take a temperature.
Move your dog into shade or air conditioning. Wet their coat and skin with cool tap water and use a fan if available. Offer small amounts of cool water if they are alert and able to drink, but do not force them to drink.
Call your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary clinic while you begin cooling, and arrange immediate care if your dog has severe signs or is not improving promptly. Continue cooling during transport. Even if your dog appears better, a veterinarian should assess them because complications can develop later.
For more details, see our guide to spotting heat stroke in dogs and emergency care.
Flat-faced breeds, older dogs, puppies, and dogs with obesity or breathing problems can be especially vulnerable. Any dog can overheat, particularly in hot, humid conditions or during strenuous activity.
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