Can Dogs Get Heatstroke in Summer?

1 Can Dogs Get Heatstroke in Summer?

1. How Dogs Lose Heat

When people are hot, dense skin sweat glands switch on and cool by sweating. Dogs have thick coats and almost no sweat glands, so they must shed heat another way:

1. Paw-pad sweating: in summer a dog’s paws stay damp—the paw pads are its only sweating part.

2. When paws can’t cool enough, the dog pants, letting saliva drip and evaporate to absorb heat.

2. Signs of Heatstroke

1. Mild: drooling, panting, restlessness. Loosen the collar, ensure airflow, move to a cool spot, use a fan/AC, and offer water.

2. Moderate: labored breathing, collapsing, dull stare. Wet the coat with cool water to reach the skin and lower body temperature, then rush to a vet.

3. Severe: shock, coma, unconsciousness—very dangerous. Wipe with cool water or alcohol, or flush the rectum with cool water for physical cooling, then rush to a vet; keep the head low and neck straight for breathing, and prevent vomiting.

Even in summer, don’t swing the dog between hot and cold—constant AC can cause colds, not cooling. Don’t shave the coat off (skin loses protection), and don’t bathe too often. For other questions, consult a veterinarian.