Heatstroke in dogs – signs and what to do

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: PDSA

See a vet now

This is an emergency – contact your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now. Heatstroke is a very serious condition in dogs that can progress very quickly.

What to do now

What you can do now

Contact your vet.
Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
Keep fresh water available.
Let your dog rest somewhere calm.

Don't

Do not give any human medicine.
Do not wait if it gets worse.

What it is

Heatstroke is a very serious condition that can progress very quickly.^[1] In severe cases, it can cause seizures, organ damage and death.^[1]

Signs

Panting
Fast breathing or difficulty breathing
Low energy
Drooling or foaming at the mouth
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Bright red or very pale gums
Shaking
Weakness, wobbliness or collapse
Confusion, seizures or unconsciousness

Causes and risk factors

Labrador Retriever
Bulldog
Pug
Boston Terrier
French Bulldog
Pomeranian
Shih Tzu

How a vet finds out

Urine tests

How vets treat it

Fluids through a drip
Oxygen
Medication

Breeds prone to this

Veterinary charities list these breeds as more likely than others to get this condition. Each breed page lists the inherited conditions documented in the breed.

What the experts say

“Overview. Heatstroke is a very serious condition that can progress very quickly, and in severe cases, cause seizures, organ damage and death.”
— PDSA [1]

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

Why is heatstroke an emergency?

Heatstroke is a very serious condition that can progress very quickly, and severe cases can cause seizures, organ damage and death.^[1]

What signs can dogs show?

Dogs can show panting, fast breathing or difficulty breathing, low energy, drooling, foaming at the mouth, vomiting, diarrhoea, abnormal gum colour, shaking, weakness, collapse, confusion, seizures or unconsciousness.^[1]

How may a vet treat heatstroke?

A vet may use fluids through a drip, oxygen or medication.^[1]

Sources

PDSA

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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