We’re in the dog days of summer, and if it is hot outside for you, then it is definitely hot outside for your four-legged friend. Watch for these 10 signs of heat stroke in dogs so you can make sure your pet stays healthy and comfortable.
Trouble Breathing
If you notice your dog panting heavily or having trouble breathing, then this could be one of two things. Either they are just tired and need a nap, or they are actually suffering from heat stroke. If their breathing troubles don’t stop after a while, you should seek medical attention.
Barking and Whining
Barking is not such an unnatural thing for a dog to do. But it should be worrisome if you were outside with your dog and they came inside whining and barking. This could be a sign of them telling you they possibly have heat stroke because they can sense something is off but don’t know exactly the best way to let you know.
Drooling
Dogs tend to drool sometimes when they go outside. The time to be alarmed is when it is excessive drooling after they have been out in the sun for a long time. If you notice a lot of drooling going on, it’s time to act. Make sure you get your dog inside to some air conditioning and they drink some water.
Stomach Issues
Vomiting and diarrhea can be a sign of many different issues with a dog. But if you happen to notice them having breathing problems and drooling in addition to stomach issues, it could be a sign of heat stroke. If your dog has been outside for a prolonged time and then has stomach problems, then it might be time to bring them to a vet.
Coordination Issues
If your dog is playing outside and comes back in and is having trouble walking, this might be a sign of heat stroke. Coordination issues in familiar spaces or just stumbling, in general, is a bad sign. Make sure you try to cool off your dog and then call your vet to tell them what is going on.
Tremors
If you notice your dog shaking different parts of their body uncontrollably, they may be showing you they are suffering from heat stroke. Is your dog’s leg twitching after being outside for a while? Then they need to be cooled off as soon as possible.
Seizures
It’s a no-brainer that if your dog starts having seizures something is extremely wrong. A seizing dog could be a victim of heat stroke or could have another serious medical issue. Either way, you need to take your dog to a vet immediately.
Exhaustion
It makes sense that a dog would be a little tired after playing outside (they exerted energy after all). If they seem to just lay there and not move for hours, there might be an issue. After being outside for a while, their exhaustion could be a sign of, you guessed it, heat stroke.
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Weakness or Collapse
Your dog collapsing is a really bad sign. If they collapse and can’t get up, you need to get medical attention as soon as possible. Collapsing is a later stage sign of heat stroke and needs to be taken care of speedily.
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What You Should Do
If your dog is showing any signs of the conditions on this list, you need to take action as soon as possible. The first step to helping your dog is getting them inside and cooling them off. To cool them off, it is recommended to mist them with cool water and put them in front of a fan. Then you need to call your vet for further instruction. Make sure you take this seriously so your dog can recover quickly.
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