Heatstroke in dogs: the signs, the actions, the gear

A dog sheds heat almost exclusively by panting and through its paw pads. That is little, and it saturates fast.

The warning signs are loud panting that does not settle, a very red or bluish tongue, an unsteady gait, vomiting.

Cooling gear helps day to day, but faced with those signs it does not replace a vet — it buys time on the way there.

In the shop: Cooling vest for dogs — to be dampened and Dog sports vest — breathable mesh.

A human being has two to four million sweat glands spread over the whole body. A dog has them only in its paw pads and around the nose. On a twenty-kilo animal, that is a derisory surface.

Its only serious route is panting: by moving air over the damp membranes of the mouth, it drives an evaporation that cools the blood passing through. The mechanism works well as long as ambient air stays clearly cooler than the animal.

When outside temperature approaches body temperature, or when air is saturated with humidity, evaporation slows and panting becomes ineffective. That is the moment internal temperature starts climbing unchecked.

Some dogs start at a disadvantage: flat-faced breeds, whose airways are short and narrow, pant less efficiently. Older, overweight, dark-coated or thick-coated animals are also more exposed.

First, fast loud panting that does not settle at rest, an insistent search for shade or cool tiles, a refusal to walk on. At this stage, shade and water are generally enough.

Then thick drooling, a very red tongue and gums, sometimes a fixed stare. The animal may look agitated and then apathetic within minutes.

Finally the serious signs: staggering, vomiting or diarrhoea, trembling, membranes turning blue or grey, loss of consciousness. This is a veterinary emergency, and the outcome depends directly on how fast you get there.

Two classic mistakes are worth avoiding in transit: iced water, which can cause shock and constrict surface vessels, and wrapping in a thick towel, which insulates instead of cooling. Use cool water, not iced, on the neck, belly and inner thighs, and let air circulate.

The gel mat works by contact, with no power and no freezer: it absorbs heat from the animal lying on it and regenerates on its own about twenty minutes after it gets up. It is the everyday solution at home, and the dog goes to it unprompted.

The dampenable vest or bandana works by evaporation, two to three hours depending on heat and wind. It suits walks and car journeys.

The light mesh vest does not cool: it screens direct sun, which genuinely matters on a dark coat, but nothing more should be expected of it.

The vest's trap is worth knowing, because it is counter-intuitive: the moment it dries, it becomes an extra insulating layer and works against you. Re-wet it regularly or take it off; never let it dry on the animal.

Cool water available at all times, changed often, and a second bowl in the shade if the dog stays outdoors.

No walks between eleven and five in hot weather. Tarmac climbs well above air temperature and burns paw pads: a hand held on the ground for five seconds is a simple and sufficient test.

Never leave an animal in a car, even in the shade, even for a few minutes, even with windows cracked open. The cabin gains several degrees per minute, and it is the leading cause of fatal heatstroke.

And for at-risk animals — flat faces, advanced age, excess weight, heart or respiratory disease — vigilance starts at a far lower temperature than for the rest.