What to Do With a Dog During a Heatwave: Prevention, Warning Signs, and First Aid
A practical guide for dog owners on keeping your dog safe in a heatwave: how to prevent overheating, spot heatstroke early, and give first aid before you reach the vet.
- dogs
- general medicine
- Heatwave
- Heatstroke
- Dehydration
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Key takeaways
- Walk in the early morning or late evening, never in peak midday heat
- Never leave a dog in a parked car, even for a few minutes with windows cracked
- Test pavement with your hand: too hot to hold for 7 seconds means too hot for paws
- Know the warning signs: heavy panting, drooling, bright red gums, wobbliness, collapse
- If you suspect heatstroke, start cooling with cool (not ice-cold) water and call the vet at once
- Flat-faced breeds, older dogs, and overweight dogs overheat fastest and need extra care
A heatwave is genuinely dangerous for dogs, and heatstroke can turn fatal within minutes. Dogs cool themselves mainly by panting, not by sweating like we do, so they struggle to shed heat once the air around them gets hot. This guide is for any dog owner facing a hot spell in Austria or Germany, and it covers how to keep your dog cool, how to spot trouble early, and exactly what to do if your dog overheats.
Why dogs are so vulnerable to heat
Your dog can't unzip a jacket or reach for a cold drink on their own. They rely on you. Panting works well in mild warmth, but on a hot, humid day it simply can't move heat fast enough. Their normal body temperature sits around 38.3 to 39.2 °C, and once it climbs past roughly 40 °C the body starts to struggle. At about 41 °C and above, organs can begin to fail.
Some dogs are at much higher risk and need extra caution:
- Flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds like French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs, Pugs, and Boxers. Their shortened airways make panting far less effective, so they overheat quickly even in moderate warmth.
- Older dogs and puppies, who regulate temperature less well.
- Overweight dogs, thick-coated breeds, and dogs with heart or breathing conditions.
- Dark-coated dogs, which absorb more heat in direct sun.
If your dog falls into any of these groups, treat warm days more seriously and cut activity back sooner.
How do I keep my dog cool in a heatwave?
Most heat emergencies are preventable. The goal is simple: reduce heat exposure and give your dog every chance to cool down.
Time walks around the heat
Walk in the early morning and the late evening, when air and ground are coolest. Skip the midday walk entirely on hot days. A short toilet break in the shade is plenty. Your dog will not suffer from missing one long walk, but they can suffer badly from one hot one.
Check the pavement before you go
Asphalt and paving stones store heat and can burn paw pads. Use the seven-second test: press the back of your hand flat on the ground. If you can't hold it there comfortably for seven seconds, it's too hot for your dog's paws. Walk on grass or shaded paths instead, or wait.
Never leave your dog in a parked car
This is the single most important rule. A car heats up astonishingly fast, even with windows cracked and even in the shade. On a warm day the inside can reach lethal temperatures within minutes, long before you're back from a "quick" errand. There is no safe version of leaving a dog in a car in summer. If you can't take your dog with you into a cool place, leave them at home.
Provide shade, water, and airflow
- Make sure there's always deep shade available, not just a patch that disappears as the sun moves.
- Offer several bowls of fresh, cool water and refill them often. Adding a few ice cubes is fine.
- Keep air moving indoors with a fan or, if you have it, air conditioning. Close blinds on the sunny side of the home during the day.
- A cooling mat or a damp towel to lie on can help, and many dogs enjoy a shallow paddling pool in the garden.
Ease off on exercise and games
Cancel high-energy activity, long hikes, ball games, and bike runs during a heatwave. A dog chasing a ball won't stop when they overheat, they'll keep going until they're in trouble. Let them set a gentle pace and rest in the shade.
A few extra tips
- Frozen treats (plain, dog-safe) or ice cubes give something cool to work on.
- Damp your dog's coat with cool water on very hot days, especially the belly and paws.
- Never muzzle a dog in a way that stops them panting freely in the heat.
- Don't shave a double-coated dog to the skin without asking your vet; the coat also insulates against heat and protects from sunburn.
What are the warning signs of heatstroke in a dog?
Catching it early matters enormously. Signs tend to progress from mild heat stress to life-threatening heatstroke, so act at the first stage rather than waiting to be sure.
Early and building signs:
- Heavy, fast panting that doesn't settle
- Excessive drooling, sometimes thick and sticky
- Restlessness, pacing, or agitation, or actively seeking water and shade
- Bright red or dark gums and tongue
- Warm skin and a racing heart
Serious, emergency signs (act immediately):
- Weakness, stumbling, or a wobbly, drunken walk
- Vomiting or diarrhoea, sometimes with blood
- Confusion or a blank, dazed look
- Collapse, seizures, or loss of consciousness
A dog with a body temperature of about 40 °C or higher showing any of these signs is a medical emergency. Flat-faced breeds can crash especially fast, so don't wait.
What do I do if my dog is overheating? First aid steps
If you think your dog has heatstroke, cool first, then get to the vet. Cooling your dog before and during transport can dramatically improve their chances. Work quickly but calmly.
- Move your dog out of the heat. Get them into shade, indoors, or in front of a fan or air conditioning straight away.
- Start cooling with cool (not ice-cold) water. Pour or spray cool tap water over the body, focusing on the belly, armpits, groin, and paws, where blood vessels run close to the surface. If you have a fan, use it: wet fur plus moving air cools faster.
- Don't use ice or ice-cold water. Very cold water can make surface blood vessels clamp shut and actually trap heat inside, and it can cause shivering. Cool and steady is the aim.
- Offer small amounts of cool water to drink if your dog is fully conscious and willing. Never force water into the mouth of a dog that is drowsy, vomiting, or unable to swallow, as it can go into the lungs.
- Call your vet or the nearest emergency clinic now. Tell them you're on the way with a suspected heatstroke. Let them prepare.
- Cool during the journey. Keep the car air conditioning on or windows open, and keep a damp towel on your dog. If you can, check their temperature with a rectal thermometer and stop active cooling once it drops to around 39 °C to avoid overcooling.
Even if your dog seems to recover, still see a vet the same day. Heatstroke can cause internal damage to the kidneys, clotting, and other organs that only shows up hours later. What looks like a full recovery on the outside can be hiding a serious problem inside.
When to call the vet
Contact a veterinarian or emergency clinic immediately if your dog shows any of these:
- Collapse, seizures, or loss of consciousness
- Persistent vomiting or diarrhoea, especially with blood
- Bright red, pale, or blue-tinged gums
- Stumbling, confusion, or a body temperature around 40 °C or higher
- Any breathing difficulty in a flat-faced breed during warm weather
When in doubt, call. Heatstroke moves fast, and vets would far rather hear from you early than too late. Keep your regular clinic's number and the nearest out-of-hours emergency number saved in your phone before summer arrives.
The takeaway
Heatstroke is one of the most preventable emergencies your dog can face. Shift walks to the cool hours, check the pavement, keep water and shade available, and never leave your dog in a parked car. Learn the early signs so you can step in before things get serious. And if your dog does overheat, cool them with cool water, get moving toward the vet, and call ahead. A little planning during a heatwave keeps a hot summer safe and comfortable for your dog.
This guide is general information and does not replace veterinary advice. If you're worried about your dog, contact your vet.
