Immediate Actions

If your dog shows signs of overheating, take the following steps:

1. Contact Your Vet: Call your veterinarian and get to the clinic as soon as possible. If immediate travel is not feasible, follow these steps:

2. Bring Your Dog Inside: Move your dog indoors but avoid placing them directly in front of an air conditioner or on an air conditioning vent. Do not immerse your dog in cold water as this can cause shock and be fatal.

3. Find a Cool Surface: Place your dog on a cool surface such as tile, linoleum, or wood flooring. Avoid carpet or rugs.

4. Use a Fan: If you have a fan, use it to circulate air around your dog, but do not place the fan directly on them.

5. Apply Rubbing Alcohol: Put isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) in a spray bottle and spray it on the pads of your dog's feet. This helps cool your dog by drawing heat out and evaporating it.

6. Hydrate: Use a spray bottle with room temperature water to gently spray the inside of your dog’s mouth. They will likely lick some of it. If you have Nutri-Cal, give some to your dog as the sugar can help.

Calming and Monitoring

• Keep Your Dog Calm: Try to keep your dog as calm as possible. Once their panting slows and their tongue returns to a normal pink color, offer them some room temperature water and let them rest.

• Provide Nutri-Cal and Electrolytes: Continue to give your dog Nutri-Cal and electrolytes if available.

Follow-Up

Even if your dog seems fine, it’s crucial to have them checked by a vet as soon as possible.

Prevention Tips

1. Know the Risks: Dogs accustomed to indoor air conditioning are more susceptible to heat stroke than those acclimated to outdoor conditions. However, heat stroke can happen quickly in extreme temperatures and humidity, sometimes in as little as 15 minutes.

2. Avoid Peak Heat: Do not let your dogs out during the heat of the day. Late afternoons and evenings can also be dangerously hot. Exercise your dog early in the morning when it is coolest, often before sunrise.

3. Monitor Weather Conditions: Pay close attention to temperature and humidity levels. For example, even early in the morning, temperatures can be dangerously high with high humidity levels.

Final Reminder

Be vigilant about your pets’ well-being and the weather conditions. Ensuring your dog's safety in hot weather requires caution and quick action if signs of overheating appear.

Stay safe and keep your pets cool!

What to Do If Your Dog Gets Overheated Outside