Hot Weather Safety: Preventing Heatstroke in Dogs

Why Heat is So Dangerous for Dogs

Humans regulate body temperature by sweating across our entire skin surface. As the sweat evaporates, it cools us down.

Dogs only have sweat glands in their paw pads, which is vastly insufficient for cooling their entire body. Instead, they rely almost entirely on panting. Panting evaporates moisture from the respiratory tract to cool the blood.

When it is extremely hot or humid, panting becomes inefficient. If a dog’s internal body temperature rises from a normal 101°F to over 105°F, cellular damage begins. At 109°F, organ failure and death are imminent.

For more on this topic, see our guide on Dog Water Safety: Not All Dogs Can Swim.

The High-Risk Dogs

All dogs can suffer from heatstroke, but some are at a massive disadvantage:

Brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds: Pugs, Bulldogs, Frenchies, and Boxers have compromised airways. They physically cannot pant efficiently enough to cool themselves. These breeds can die of heatstroke in 75°F weather.
Double-coated breeds: Huskies, Malamutes, and Samoyeds are insulated against the cold, trapping heat in the summer.
Senior dogs and puppies: They lack the ability to regulate their body temperature effectively.
Overweight dogs: Fat acts as an insulator, trapping heat inside the core.

For more on this topic, see our guide on Cold Weather Safety: Protecting Your Dog in Winter.

The 5 Rules of Summer Safety

1. The Pavement Test

Asphalt gets drastically hotter than the air temperature. If the air is 85°F, the asphalt can be 135°F. The Test: Place the back of your bare hand on the pavement. If you cannot hold it there comfortably for 7 seconds, it is too hot for your dog’s paws. Walk them on the grass or wait until sunset.

2. Never Leave a Dog in a Parked Car

Even with the windows cracked and parked in the shade, the temperature inside a car can rise 20 degrees in 10 minutes. On an 85°F day, the inside of a car can reach 120°F in half an hour. It is a death trap. Leave the dog at home.

3. Shift the Exercise Schedule

Do not take your dog for a run at 2:00 PM in July. Shift all vigorous exercise to the early morning (before sunrise) or late evening. During the peak heat of the day, stick to brief potty breaks.

4. Provide Endless Fresh Water and Shade

If your dog is outside, they must have access to deep shade (a dog house does not count; they trap heat like an oven) and a constant supply of cool, fresh water. Add ice cubes to the water bowl.

5. Recognize the Signs of Heatstroke

You must act immediately if you see these signs:

Frantic, excessive panting
Thick, ropey saliva
Bright red or bluish/purple gums and tongue
Lethargy, stumbling, or collapse
Vomiting or diarrhea

What to Do if Heatstroke Occurs

This is a medical emergency.

Move the dog to air conditioning or deep shade immediately.
Cool them down gradually. Pour cool (not ice-cold) water over their body, specifically the belly, groin, and paws. Do not use an ice bath. Ice causes the surface blood vessels to constrict, trapping the boiling heat inside the internal organs.
Offer cool water to drink, but do not force it down their throat.
Put them in the car with the AC blasting and drive directly to the nearest emergency veterinary clinic. Even if the dog seems to recover, their internal organs may have suffered damage that will kill them days later without medical intervention.