Heatstroke in Dogs: 8 Critical Steps for Emergency Care

Caramel started panting heavily, her breathing became shallow, and she staggered when she sat down and stood up—and the temperature is 97°F. Every second you spend reading this is critical. Heatstroke in dogs is a medical emergency that can be fatal within minutes. When body temperature exceeds 40.5°C, permanent damage to the brain, kidneys, and liver begins. Without panicking, follow these 8 steps in order.

"1"Move them immediately to a shaded, cool area — every second counts.

Immediately move Karamel away from the sun; take them to an air-conditioned room or at least a shaded, well-ventilated area. Never place a dog rescued from a hot car into a new hot environment. If possible, place a lightly damp cloth over them while transporting them. This step buys time — every 60 seconds is critical for lowering body temperature.

"2"Dampen the body with lukewarm (not cold) water.

Major mistake: submerging the dog in icy water. Very cold water constricts blood vessels in the skin, slowing heat dissipation, and can also cause shock. Moisten the abdomen, groin, and armpit areas with lukewarm-to-cool tap water. These areas have large blood vessels close to the skin and facilitate rapid cooling. Use flowing water instead of a shower.

"3"Use a fan or create airflow.

Blowing air over a wet body creates real cooling through evaporation. If you have a fan, turn it on immediately; if not, manually fan the person with a towel. Even air conditioning isn’t enough on its own; moving air is essential. Water + airflow = maximum heat dissipation. This combination can save a life until medical help arrives.

"4"Change the wet towels frequently — do not cover the dog with a wet towel.

Common mistake: covering the dog with a wet towel and leaving it there. Within 2 minutes, that towel warms up to body temperature and traps heat inside — essentially turning into an insulator. Replace the towel every 1–2 minutes, or keep it only on the groin, armpit, and abdominal areas and change it. A towel covering the body = disaster.

"5"Give small amounts of cool water — do not force it.

If the dog is conscious and able to swallow, offer cool (not icy) water. If they refuse to drink, never force them — if they aspirate (swallow it into their lungs), aspiration pneumonia can develop. Offer small sips every 2–3 minutes. Cold drinks, sports drinks, and milk are strictly prohibited. Only cool tap water.

"6"Measure and monitor body temperature rectally.

Use a digital thermometer at home to take a rectal (through the anus) reading — apply a small amount of Vaseline, insert 1–2 cm, and wait 30 seconds. Normal dog temperature is 38.3–39.2°C. Anything over 40.5°C is an emergency. Continue cooling until the temperature drops to 39.5°C, then stop — overcooling can cause hypothermia. Do not neglect cooling even if you cannot measure the temperature.

"7"Go to the nearest veterinarian IMMEDIATELY — call ahead.

This step is not "next," but should be done simultaneously with the current steps. While one family member continues cooling, the other should call the nearest 24-hour veterinary clinic to let them know you’re on your way. 24/7 clinics in Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir: The "Pet Emergency" app will locate the nearest one based on your location in 30 seconds by 2026. Turn the car’s air conditioning to maximum.

"8"Even if the pet seems to be improving, a veterinary check-up is absolutely necessary.

Caramel may seem to “recover” after 20 minutes. However, heatstroke can cause delayed damage to internal organs—such as the kidneys, liver, and blood clotting system. Cases resulting in death within 24–48 hours are often animals that appeared to have “recovered.” The veterinarian must perform a blood test; the dog may need to be kept overnight for observation.

To put it simply,

Dog heatstroke is the leading "preventable" cause of pet deaths during Turkish summers. The intervention you take in the first 10 minutes determines the line between life and death. Memorize these 8 steps, hang them on your fridge as summer approaches, and save the number of the nearest 24/7 vet in your phone. Avoiding walks during midday hours and never leaving your dog in the car—even for a second—are the most basic precautions—before heatstroke even occurs.