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Emergency cooling steps
Short answerMove the dog out of the heat, call your vet or the nearest emergency clinic right away, and start cooling at once with whatever water you have - the two happen together, and the vet trip is never delayed to keep cooling. Current veterinary guidance is "cool first, transport second": cooling starts immediately and continues on the way, because cooling begun before arrival at the clinic has been linked with better survival. For a young, healthy, conscious dog, immerse the body in cool water, keeping the head above water. Otherwise, pour or spray cool tap water over the whole body and get air moving with a fan, an open window or car air conditioning. Never drape wet towels over the dog, never use rubbing alcohol, and don't force water into the mouth of a wobbly dog. Go to the vet even if the dog seems fine: heatstroke keeps causing damage after the visible signs ease.
The first five minutes
- Get out of the heat. Shade at minimum; indoors or an air-conditioned car is better. Stop all activity - no walking it off.
- Call the vet now. If someone is with you, they call while you start cooling. Say you suspect heatstroke so the clinic is ready. If you are alone, start cooling while the phone rings.
- Start cooling with whatever water you have. Tap-cold water is fine - speed matters more than finding the "perfect" temperature. For a young, healthy, fully conscious dog, immersion in cool water (a paddling pool, a lake edge, a bath) is one of the two recommended methods; keep the head supported and the nose and mouth clear of water. For flat-faced breeds, older dogs, or any dog who is wobbly or unresponsive, use the second recommended method instead: pour or spray cool water over the whole body, then keep air moving across the wet coat.
- Add moving air. Evaporation does the work. A fan, an open window on the drive, or car AC pointed at the dog speeds cooling. Wet the coat again as it dries.
- Offer water, don't force it. An alert dog can lap small amounts of cool water. Never pour water into the mouth of a wobbly or unresponsive dog.
- Go. Keep cooling during the drive with wet fur and moving air - but go: do not extend the cooling to postpone the trip.
What not to do
Do not drape wet towels over the dog: covering the body can restrict airflow and reduce evaporative cooling. Do not apply rubbing alcohol. Start cooling and call the vet immediately; follow their instructions and do not delay urgent transport.
Why the vet visit isn't optional
Heat illness can damage organs even when a dog seems better. Call a vet immediately and arrange urgent care while starting cooling. Further cooling and monitoring should follow the vet's instructions.
Recovery: follow your vet's plan
Ask your vet when and how your dog can return to normal activity, and what to watch for at home. Report any change to your vet. The walk-timing guide and checklist below are for general prevention, not recovery clearance. Walk timing and the pavement test The walk-day checklist
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