Recognising Heatstroke — Pet First Aid Awareness — Learn — Lapdog
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Recognising Heatstroke

How to identify heatstroke and get your pet to safety.

Heatstroke in Australian Conditions

Australia’s hot climate makes heatstroke one of the most common and preventable pet emergencies. Heatstroke occurs when a pet’s body temperature rises to a dangerous level and they can no longer cool themselves down. It can be fatal within minutes.

Common Causes

  • Being left in a parked car — even with the windows cracked, a car’s interior can reach 60 degrees Celsius within minutes on a 30-degree day. This is the most common cause of fatal heatstroke in Australian pets
  • Exercising in hot weather — walking, running, or playing during the heat of the day
  • No access to shade or water
  • Hot pavement — bitumen and sand can burn paw pads and contribute to overheating

High-Risk Pets

  • Brachycephalic breeds (Pugs, French Bulldogs, Bulldogs, Persian cats) — their shortened airways make it much harder to cool down through panting
  • Overweight pets
  • Elderly pets and young puppies/kittens
  • Thick or dark-coated breeds
  • Pets with heart or respiratory conditions

Signs of Heatstroke

Recognising heatstroke early is critical. Look for:

Early Signs

  • Excessive, heavy panting
  • Drooling thick, ropy saliva
  • Bright red gums and tongue
  • Restlessness or agitation
  • Seeking shade or cool surfaces

Advanced Signs — Go to Your Vet Now

  • Gums turning pale, grey, or blue
  • Vomiting or diarrhoea (possibly with blood)
  • Staggering, confusion, or disorientation
  • Collapse or inability to stand
  • Seizures
  • Loss of consciousness

If you see advanced signs, your pet needs emergency veterinary care immediately.

Warning

DO: Move your pet to a cool, shaded area immediately. Offer small amounts of cool (not ice cold) water. Apply cool (not cold) water to the groin, armpits, and paw pads. Get to your vet as quickly as possible.

DO NOT: Use ice or ice-cold water — this causes blood vessels to constrict and actually traps heat inside the body. Do not force water into your pet's mouth. Do not cover them with wet towels (towels insulate and trap heat). Do not delay going to the vet — cool your pet during transport, not instead of it.

Quiz

Heatstroke Response Quiz

Your dog is panting heavily, drooling, and has bright red gums after being in the sun. You move them to shade. What should you use to cool them down?

A Ice packs applied directly to the body
B Cool (not ice cold) water to the groin, armpits, and paw pads
C A wet towel draped over the dog's body
D A cold bath with ice cubes
Use cool (not ice cold) water applied to the groin, armpits, and paw pads — these are areas where blood vessels are close to the surface. Ice and ice-cold water cause blood vessels to constrict, trapping heat inside. Wet towels insulate and trap heat. Always get to your vet as well — cooling is first aid during transport, not a treatment.
True or False

Car Temperature Check

Leaving the windows slightly open keeps a parked car cool enough for a pet on a warm day.
True
False
Even with windows cracked, a car's interior temperature can rise to 60 degrees Celsius within minutes on a 30-degree day. Cracking the windows makes almost no difference. Never leave a pet in a parked car, even for a few minutes.
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