Heatstroke in dogs and cats: signs and first aid

Heatstroke occurs when the body of an animal gets too hot and cannot cool down. Heatstroke can cause damage to the brain, the kidneys, the liver and other organs. It can kill a pet.

In Dubai, the risk is high for many months of the year. You can prevent most cases. Fast first aid gives your pet a much better chance.

Does your pet show signs of heatstroke now? Start to cool your pet. Call us on +971 54 746 6650. Read the rest of this guide later.

Why pets get heatstroke

People sweat on most parts of the body. Dogs and cats do not. Dogs sweat only a little, through their paws. A dog removes heat from its body mainly by panting. Panting does not work well in humid air. A cat also removes heat when it grooms. The saliva on the fur cools the cat.

These are common causes of heatstroke:

• exercise or play in the heat
• a walk at the wrong time of day
• a parked car, also for a short time
• a room, a balcony or a garden with no shade, no flow of air or no water
• a long trip in a hot car or in a hot pet carrier

The UK veterinary charity PDSA says that most cases in dogs occur during exercise and play. A pet can also get heatstroke when it only sits in a hot place.

Pets with a higher risk

All pets can get heatstroke. The risk is higher if your pet:

• has a short, flat face, for example a Pug, a French Bulldog, a Bulldog or a Persian cat
• is too heavy
• is very young or old
• is a large or giant breed
• has a thick or long coat
• has a heart problem, a breathing problem or another long-term problem

Signs of heatstroke

Signs in dogs

• heavy, fast panting
• a large quantity of drool
• a dark red or pale tongue and gums
• weakness, or the dog lies down and does not want to get up
• confusion, or walking that is not steady
• vomiting or diarrhoea
• collapse or seizures

Signs in cats

Cats hide illness well. Look for these signs:

• panting, or breathing with the mouth open (a healthy cat almost never does this)
• the cat cannot stay still, then the cat becomes weak
• a large quantity of drool, or too much grooming
• a red tongue and gums
• vomiting
• walking that is not steady, or collapse

Do you see these signs on a hot day or after exercise? Think of heatstroke.

First aid: what to do now

These steps follow the advice of the PDSA. Do the steps quickly. Stay calm.

1. Move your pet to a cool place. Go into an air-conditioned room or into the shade.
2. Start to cool your pet. Pour cool water on the whole body. Tap water is correct for this.
3. Pour the water slowly. This helps your pet to stay calm. Be very gentle with a cat. Most cats do not like water.
4. Move the air. Use a fan or the air conditioning.
5. Give your pet cool water to drink. Do not force your pet to drink.
6. Put a cool, wet towel under your pet. Do not put the towel on top of your pet. A wet towel on top can keep the heat in.
7. Call us and come to the clinic. Continue to cool your pet in the car. Use the air conditioning.
8. Bring a second person, if possible. This person can cool your pet during the trip.

If your pet is unconscious, keep water away from its nose and mouth.

Do not give your pet medicine for people. Some human medicines are poisonous to pets.

Why your pet must see a vet

After first aid, a pet can look better. But it can still have damage inside the body.

The vet checks the temperature, the heart, the gums and the breathing. Some pets need blood tests. Some pets need a drip, which puts fluids into a vein. Some pets must stay in the clinic.

When a pet gets treatment fast, it has a better chance of a full recovery.

We are open every day from 10am to 10pm. You can come without an appointment. Call us or send a WhatsApp message on the way. Then we can get ready for your pet. Read our urgent care page to see what to bring.

We are not a 24-hour emergency hospital. From 10pm to 10am, take your pet to the nearest 24-hour emergency veterinary hospital.

How to prevent heatstroke

On walks

• In the hot months, walk only in the coolest part of the day. Read our dog-walking guide by month.
• Do the five-second test. Put the back of your hand on the ground. If the ground is too hot for your hand, it is too hot for paws.
• Bring water on every walk.
• Do not run or cycle with your dog in the heat.

At home

• Give your pet shade at all times.
• Give your pet fresh, cool water at all times.
• When you go out, keep the air conditioning on for your pet.
• Make a plan for a power cut.
• Do not keep a pet on a balcony or a roof in the sun.
• Give your cat a cool place to hide, for example a tiled floor in a room with shade.

In the car

• Never leave a pet in a parked car.
• Before a trip, cool the car.
• Use a carrier with a good flow of air.

Weight and coat

• Help your pet to stay at a healthy weight. Extra weight makes it more difficult for the body to cool down.
• Brush your pet frequently. Matted fur keeps heat in the body.
• If the coat is thick or matted, ask about grooming.
• Ask a groomer or the vet if a clip is correct for your pet.
• Do not shave the coat to the skin without advice. The skin needs some protection from the sun.

After a hot day

Your pet got too hot, but now it looks well? Watch your pet for the rest of the day. Call us if your pet:

• vomits
• has diarrhoea
• does not eat
• is very tired
• shows a change in behaviour

We can help

Does your pet have a high risk? Ask us for a summer plan. The vet can check the weight, the heart and the breathing of your pet. The vet can also give advice about walks and exercise.

Book a consultation or book online.

Sources

• PDSA, "First aid for heatstroke": pdsa.org.uk
• PDSA, "Heatstroke in dogs": pdsa.org.uk
• RSPCA, "Caring for your dog in hot weather": rspca.org.uk
• Dogs Trust, "Caring for your dog during hot weather": dogstrust.org.uk
• National Center of Meteorology (NCM), UAE weather forecast: ncm.gov.ae

This article is general information. It is not a diagnosis. For an emergency, call us.