Heatstroke First Aid Materials

2 liter soda bottle

Towel or blanket

Thermometer and lubricating jelly

Heatstroke First Aid

Take the dog’s temperature. Is the dog’s temperature 106 degrees F or greater, is he or she experiencing shortness of breath, and extremely hot to the touch?

Contact your veterinarian or animal emergency care facility immediately for advice on how to avoid shock and other complications. Advise them on the symptoms and seek their advice for further instructions.

If unable to reach your veterinarian use the following as guidelines, but not as a replacement for veterinary advice.

Immerse the dog in cool to cold water. The bathtub is ideal.

Monitor temperature, taking every 2 minutes and note any changes. Remove the dog from cool bath once his or her temperature reaches 104 degrees; do not wait until the dog’s temperature is normal. The temperature may continue to drop to an unsafe level. Speak to your dog in a normal, soothing tone. If you panic or are overly excited, this may frighten your dog.

If his or her temperature falls below 100 degrees, keep your dog warm by covering with the towel or blanket. Place a 2 liter soda bottle filled with warm (not hot) water against the dog.

Contact your veterinarian or animal emergency care facility.

Transport to the Veterinarian

If at all possible two people should assist with transporting your dog to the veterinarian; one to drive and one to provide care for your dog.

The vehicle must be well ventilated during the trip.

Use a pet carrier if possible, especially if only one person is transporting the dog. A dog that normally responds well to car rides may not act the same under emergency conditions.

Secure the carrier if possible.