How can I tell if my dog is too hot?
Tessie Prohaska
2025-08-17 15:59:00
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Panting is an indicator that your dog feels the need to cool down and it can be an early warning sign. If the length and width of the tongue grow, it’s a sign their body temperature is rising. Forceful or heavy panting: As a dog owner, you’re familiar with your dog’s breathing, so when their panting starts to be more pronounced than usual, it’s time to cease all activity and get your dog to a cool place with plenty of water. Depression: As a dog tires, they may become less animated, and their facial expression may show signs of concern or apprehension. Slowed pace/motor skills: An ill or stressed-out dog may slow their pace or cover less ground. Lowered tail: Lower tail carriage and less tail action are also indicators of a dog not feeling well. Rapid heartbeat: As dogs overheat, they begin to get dehydrated and the amount of blood volume decreases.
Malinda Oberbrunner
2025-08-09 14:25:41
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Panting is a dog’s primary way of cooling down, but if your pup is panting more than usual, it could be a sign they’re too hot. Keep an eye out for heavy, constant panting that doesn’t seem to subside. Excessive drooling can indicate an overheated dog. If your dog is leaving more slobber trails than usual, it’s time to take action. Check your dog’s gums, if they’re bright red or unusually pale, it could be a sign of heat stress. Healthy gums should be a nice pink color. Elevated body temperature, this one probably goes without saying, but if your furry friend feels noticeably warm, it’s time to get them to a cool place indoors. Feel your dog’s chest, if their heartbeat is rapid and irregular, it could be a sign your dog is overheating. Disorientation, stumbling, or weakness, if your dog seems confused, disoriented, or has trouble walking, they could be suffering from heatstroke.
Mathew O'Connell
2025-07-29 17:03:50
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Dogs cannot verbally communicate when they're hot, and they often push themselves to keep up with us. As responsible pet owners, we need to recognize the physical cues indicating heat distress: Excessive panting, Bright red tongue, gums, and inside of ears, Slowing down or stopping during walks/runs, Drooling or salivating, Signs of general discomfort, Rapid heart rate, Wide, stressed eyes, Anxiety, Seeking shade or water sources, like puddles.
As heat exhaustion progresses to heat stroke, you may observe more severe symptoms, including: Pale gums, Mental dullness, Loss of consciousness, Vomiting, Diarrhea (which may appear black), Dark or red urine, Seizures, Uncoordinated movement (stumbling, dizziness), Collapse.
While any dog can suffer from heat-related issues, certain breeds and conditions make some dogs more vulnerable.
Unlike humans, dogs cannot sweat. They rely on panting and vasodilation (the widening of blood vessels) to help dissipate heat. As a dog’s body temperature rises, heat exhaustion sets in. If the temperature continues to rise and their cooling mechanisms fail, it can lead to heat stroke, a serious medical emergency.
Odell Jenkins
2025-07-29 14:23:57
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One of the first signs you will see when your dog is getting too hot is excessive panting. If your dog is breathing as if they are from an intense run, yet they are just taking a stroll then most likely they are overheating. Excessive drooling is also a sign, when the temperature is hot, you should be alarmed by excessive and abnormal drooling. A fast heartbeat means that your dog is pumping overheated blood away from the vital organs to the extremities. Your dog may switch from excessive panting to deep, noisy and rapid breathing, this indicates that they are trying to get oxygen into their system for cooling relief from overheating. Excessive heat can cause lethargy in pets, you may notice your dog napping more or having trouble standing up and walking. In addition to lethargy, your pet may stumble when walking or be unaware of their surroundings and may for instance bump into furniture.
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