What To Do If Your Dog Overheats – Pet Camp

With summer fast approaching, it’s important to not only keep yourself cool, but also your pets. Detecting and treating overheating symptoms quickly in your pet could save their life. If after playing out in the sun, you notice that your dog is panting excessively, breathing heavily or noisily, and/or vomiting, quickly take them inside or to a shaded area and take their temperature.
Your dog’s temperature is over 102 degrees, start treatment. If it’s over 105°, see a vet immediately. Start by hosing down your dog with cool water. Apply a cold compress to the underarms or inner thighs. Using a mixture of rubbing alcohol and water, while avoiding your dog’s face, douse the back of their neck, down their back, across their chest and even their stomach and legs.
After this, take their temperature again and repeat dousing as needed. If their gums are blue or bright red, or if they’ve collapsed and showed signs of convulsing, they need to see a vet Immediately. Even if they do not show these emergency symptoms, but their temperature isn’t lowering, consult a vet.
Brachycephalic breeds like bulldogs, pugs, and shih tzus are especially prone to overheating.