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Entry 696Filed under Breeding

Heatstroke in Pets: Signs, Risks, and What to Do

Heatstroke can be life-threatening for dogs and cats. Recognize the warning signs, start gentle cooling, and arrange veterinary care without delay.
4-minute read By Animalso Team
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If your pet is panting heavily, drooling, weak, confused, vomiting, or struggling after heat exposure, move them to a cool place, begin gentle cooling, and contact a veterinary hospital immediately. Heatstroke can cause life-threatening organ damage. Cooling at home is only a first step while you arrange veterinary care—not a reason to wait and see.

What heatstroke is—and why it is an emergency

Heatstroke occurs when an animal becomes too hot to cool itself effectively. It can injure multiple organs and may be fatal. Dogs are especially dependent on panting to shed heat; hot or humid conditions, strenuous exercise, and confinement in a hot space can overwhelm that cooling process. Cats can also develop heatstroke and need prompt help when they show signs of overheating.

Cornell’s canine guidance gives a normal dog temperature range of 100.5–102.5°F and describes heatstroke at 105°F or higher. Those are canine reference values, not a threshold for cats or every pet. Do not spend time trying to take your pet’s temperature before seeking care if heatstroke is suspected. Cornell canine heatstroke guidance

Signs of heatstroke in dogs and cats

Do not wait for collapse or for every symptom to appear. If your pet has been exposed to heat and is showing concerning signs, contact a veterinarian promptly.

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Dogs

Warning signs can include heavy or excessive panting, excessive drooling, anxiousness or restlessness, unsteadiness, abnormal gum or tongue color, weakness, confusion, vomiting, diarrhea (including bloody diarrhea), seizures, and collapse. Seeking shade, whining, or becoming reluctant to play can be earlier clues that a dog is overheating. Persistent excessive panting or drooling, breathing difficulty, or any worsening sign warrants immediate veterinary attention. Cornell canine heatstroke guidance; Cornell summer safety guidance for dogs; AVMA warm-weather pet safety

Cats

In cats, signs can include excessive panting, drooling, weakness or collapse, vomiting, and diarrhea. Put a cat showing these signs in a cool area with airflow, gently wet the fur with cool—not very cold—water, and contact a veterinarian immediately. A cat being indoors does not rule out heatstroke. Cornell feline heat safety

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What to do if your pet is overheating

  1. Move them out of the heat. Get your pet out of direct sun or a hot environment and into shade or a comfortably cool indoor space.
  2. Begin gentle cooling. For a dog, wet the body with cool water. The AVMA’s 2025 first-aid guide advises gently placing towels wetted with room-temperature water around the neck, armpits, and groin; rewet and replace them every few minutes, and use a fan if available. For a cat, gently wet the fur with cool, not very cold, water. AVMA 2025 Pet First Aid; Cornell canine heatstroke guidance; Cornell feline heat safety
  3. Call a veterinary hospital and leave for care immediately. Call ahead so staff can prepare. Keep cooling underway while arranging transport; do not delay the trip to try additional home measures. If you are already speaking with a veterinarian, follow their instructions for cooling and safe transport.

Do not immerse your pet in cold water or improvise intensive cooling. The Merck Veterinary Manual also treats heatstroke as an emergency and advises cooling, while cautioning against cold-water immersion. Do not give medication or attempt a home treatment plan unless a veterinarian directs you. Merck Veterinary Manual: What to Do in a Dog or Cat Emergency

Why pets are at risk

Any dog or cat can be affected. Heat risk rises with hot or humid weather, strenuous exercise, inadequate shade or water outdoors, and confinement in a hot vehicle. Cars can reach deadly temperatures quickly—even when it does not feel very hot outside. Never leave a pet unattended in a car, including in the shade or with the windows cracked. AVMA warm-weather pet safety

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Some dogs have added vulnerabilities. Cornell identifies short-muzzle (brachycephalic) dogs, older dogs, overweight dogs, thick- or dark-coated dogs, and dogs with respiratory or cardiac disorders as higher risk. Short-muzzle dogs may have more difficulty panting efficiently. Cats also need protection from extreme heat; do not assume they are safe simply because they are a different species or are indoors. Cornell canine heatstroke guidance; Cornell feline heat safety

How to prevent heatstroke

  • Never leave a pet unattended in a vehicle.
  • Provide frequent access to fresh water and shade when pets are outside.
  • Avoid strenuous exercise in hot or humid conditions. Walk dogs during cooler parts of the day and keep pets indoors during extreme heat or humidity.
  • During extreme heat, keep cats in air-conditioned areas where possible. Check sheds, garages, greenhouses, barns, and other outbuildings so cats cannot become trapped inside.
  • Ask your veterinarian about your pet’s individual heat risk, particularly if they are short-muzzled, older, overweight, or have heart or breathing problems.

A cooling mat can provide a cooler resting place for a cat, but it is not emergency treatment and does not replace shade, water, or veterinary care. Cornell feline heat safety

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What happens at the veterinary hospital

For dogs, veterinarians use the history of heat exposure and the animal’s signs to assess suspected heatstroke. Examination and blood work help identify organ damage; monitoring may also include blood pressure, ECG, clotting times, glucose, and electrolytes. Depending on the pet’s condition, hospital treatment may include active cooling, IV fluids, oxygen, electrolyte or glucose support, blood products, gut-protective medication, pain relief, or anti-seizure medication. These needs are why home cooling alone is not adequate treatment. Cornell canine heatstroke guidance

Recovery cannot be predicted from symptoms alone. For dogs, the outcome depends in part on how high the temperature rose and how long it stayed elevated; underlying conditions can add risk. Early recognition and intensive supportive veterinary care improve the chance of survival, and dogs that recover may be at increased risk of another episode. Cornell canine heatstroke guidance

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