05/19/2026
Heat Exhaustion ⚠️
With the warmer weather it's important to keep an eye out for these common symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke in dogs:
1. Excessive panting or difficulty breathing. If your dog is panting constantly or faster than normal (hyperventilation), they could be overheated. Dogs with flat faces like pugs are more susceptible to heat exhaustion because they cannot pant as efficiently.
2. Dehydration. Signs of dehydration include dry nose, visible tiredness, excessive panting, and sunken eyes.
3. Excessive drooling. Keep an eye out for lots of drool, or drool that is thicker and stickier than usual.
4. Fever. If your dog’s nose is dry and hot instead of wet and cool, they could have a fever. A body temperature above 103°F is considered abnormal.
5. Bright red, gray, purple, or bluish gums. If your dog’s gums are a different color than normal, they could be dehydrated.
6. Lack of urine. If your pet has trouble producing urine, they could be dehydrated or overheated.
7. Rapid pulse. The easiest way to take your dog’s pulse is to place your hand on their chest near their front elbow joint. If their pulse seems elevated, they could be overheated. (Normal pulse rate depends on the size of your dog, bigger dogs tend to have slower pulses, while small dogs and puppies have very quick pulses.)
8. Muscle tremors. If your dog is shivering or shaking regardless of outside temperature, it may be caused by heat exhaustion.
9. Lethargy or weakness. Overheating can cause dogs to nap more than normal or having trouble standing up or walking.
10. Vomiting or diarrhea. Abnormally soft stool, or stool with blood in it.
11. Dizziness. If your dog seems to have trouble walking in a straight line or keeps bumping into furniture, they might be lightheaded from dehydration or heat exhaustion.
These are the most common and easily detectable symptoms of heat exhaustion, but there are many more. If your dog is acting at all sick, tired, or otherwise abnormal during the hot summer months, don’t ignore it!
