With the warm weather finally upon us, it’s time to remind yourself how to care for your dog in the heat. While usually well intentioned, the internet is full of misinformation. Some of which is downright dangerous. Heat stroke in dogs needs ‘Wet then Vet’ – but do you know what that means? Let’s take a look. 

What is heatstroke? 

Heatstroke is a very serious, rapidly progressing condition. If left untreated, heatstroke can lead to seizures, organ damage and even death. The longer heatstroke is left untreated, the more serious it becomes. Unfortunately, it progresses very quickly, so you need to act fast if you suspect your dog is suffering from heatstroke. 

Heatstroke can happen when a dog is trapped in a hot car, a hot room, or an area with poor ventilation. However, most cases of heatstroke actually happen while a dog is playing or exercising in warm or hot weather (which can be as little as a gentle walk in the heat for some). So, heatstroke is not just about hot cars! 

Our pets are at greater risk of heatstroke than us for various reasons. They can’t remove their furry coat for a start! They also may not have the option to move somewhere cooler or to turn on a fan as we might, and of course they can’t tell us when they’re feeling too warm. Dogs also can’t sweat like we do, so they aren’t as good at regulating their own body temperature. 

Some dogs are at greater risk of heatstroke than others, namely: 

  • brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds such as French Bulldogs,  
  • dogs with underlying health conditions such upper airway, lung or heart disease,  
  • overweight or obese dogs, 
  • dogs with thicker coats, 
  • elderly or very young dogs. 

However, any dog can suffer with heatstroke. 

Signs of heatstroke in dogs 

Here are the signs to watch for, that show your dog may be suffering with heatstroke: 

  • Panting 
  • Drooling 
  • Restlessness 
  • Fast heart rate 
  • Bright red gums and / or tongue 
  • Vomiting and / or diarrhoea 
  • Lethargy (reduced energy) 
  • Ataxia (wobbly when walking) 
  • Shaking  
  • Confusion  
  • Collapse 
  • Seizures 
  • Coma 
  • Death. 

If your dog is showing any of these symptoms, it’s crucial that you act fast.  

Wet then Vet – how to treat heatstroke in dogs 

‘Cool first, transport second’ 

This is the correct, up-to-date, scientifically backed first aid response for dogs with heatstroke. You need to cool your dog down as quickly as possible, using water that is colder than your dog, before your transport your dog to the vets. The longer your dog’s body temperature remains too high, the more damage occurs, so the quicker you start cooling them the better. 

‘Wet then Vet’  

A simple way to remember what you should do if your dog is suffering with heatstroke: 

(1) Move them somewhere cool 

(2) Quickly cool your pet down by either  

  • Cold water immersion: plunging them into cold water so they are completely covered apart from their head (this is suitable for young, otherwise healthy dogs, but best avoided in older sogs or those with heart or lung problems). You could use a bath, or a paddling pool filled with fresh cold water. 

OR 

  • Evaporative cooling: pour cold water (which must be cooler than your dog) over them while also putting them somewhere with air movement (such as next to a fan, a breeze or air conditioning). Using a hose pipe is often most convenient, but be sure to run the water through first, since the water sitting in the pipe can reach very high temperatures on a hot day. 

(3) Encourage your dog to keep sipping cold water  

(4) Get them to the nearest vet. 

This goes against some of the older, traditional advice, which has now been proven to be incorrect. 

Raising awareness 

A lot of information found online is actually out of date now, or just plain inaccurate. Sadly, well-intentioned pet owners following this inaccurate advice leads to poorer outcomes for their pets. For example, the advice used to be not to cool your dog too quickly, so to use cool water, not cold, and to soak them with wet towels. Research has now shown that this is outdated, and this is no longer the correct advice.  

You may also have read, or been told, about some home remedies, such as squirting lemon juice in your dog’s mouth. This is actually extremely dangerous. It will not help to cool your dog down and could lead to worsening breathing problems.  

A recent presentation from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) looked at the current guidelines – i.e. ‘Wet then Vet’ – and whether pet owners were aware. Out of the 804 dogs that were being cared for by their owners when they developed heat related illness, only 27.6% of dogs were cooled before being taken to the vet. That’s only around a quarter of dogs. Out of these dogs that were cooled first, less than half (40%) were cooled using the currently recommended methods (i.e. cold water immersion or evaporative cooling). Sadly, this shows a huge gap in awareness of the current, correct advice. Hence this article! 

Importantly, their research showed that when dogs were cooled by their owners (using one of the recommended methods) before they went to the vet, their body temperature was significantly lower than those that had been cooled using other methods, or had not been cooled at all. Proving that ‘wet then vet’ works! 

So remember – “Wet then Vet” – by cold water immersion or evaporative cooling. 

Preventing heatstroke 

Naturally, prevention is better than cure! There are some measures you can take to reduce the risk of heatstroke: 

  • Only walk your dog when it’s cool. This could be very early morning, late evening, or not at all on very hot days. Remember, your dog won’t die from missing a walk, but they may die from walking on a hot day. 
  • Ensure your dog has access to shade or cooler areas at all times– inside and outside. 
  • Ensure your dog can access cool water to drink at all times.  
  • Dogs die in hot cars – never leave your dog in a stationary car, whether you are with them or not! Temperatures rise rapidly in stationary cars, and there is no safe time limit.  
  • Moving cars can be dangerous too – unless you have very effective air conditioning, the temperature in your car can get too hot even when you’re moving. If you must travel, make sure you plan your journey to include plenty of breaks, water and shade.  
  • Keep your dog slim – overweight dogs are more susceptible to heat stroke. 
  • Avoid walking on hot surfaces – if it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws!  
  • Regular grooming for breeds / coats that need it can help too. 

Remember that some dogs will suffer with heatstroke even in mild heat, so know your dog and adjust your days as needed. 

Key points 

The key points to remember: 

  • Wet then Vet! Cool your dog using one of the recommended methods before taking them to your vet. 
  • Acting quickly to cool your dog, as soon as you notice even mild signs of overheating, could save their life. 
  • Cold water immersion (plunging them into cold water so they are completely covered apart from their head) and evaporative cooling (pouring cold water over them while also putting them somewhere with air movement) are the most effective methods for cooling your dog quickly. 

The take home message is that we need to raise awareness of the current, scientifically proven, recommended first aid for dogs with heatstroke.  

So, tell your friends, your neighbours, your family. Share this article, share the RVC presentation. You may well save a dog’s life!