What are the three stages of heat exhaustion in dogs?
Lynn Hagenes
2025-08-19 21:39:26
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The three stages of HRI are heat stress, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
STAGE 1 - HEAT STRESS
STAGE 2 - HEAT EXHAUSTION
Any of the signs from Stage 1 plus additional signs:
Weakness or stumbling
Mentally aware but too tired to react
Excessive panting becomes uncontrollable
Significant thirst
Sunken, dry eyes
Dry mouth, gums and nose
Vomit or diarrhea
Lack of skin elasticity
Muscle tremors
The chart below is a reference to help owners determine if their dog is dangerously overheating and what actions to take to help him.
Minnie Jacobson
2025-08-19 09:10:22
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Heat stress is the less severe heat-related illness.
At this stage, dogs will show an increase in thirst and panting.
As the condition worsens, it will progress to heat exhaustion and then, finally, to heat stroke.
If your dog is unable to regulate their body temperature, their heat stress may progress to heat exhaustion.
Signs of heat exhaustion include: Heavy panting Weakness and episodes of collapsing.
If treatment isn’t given during heat exhaustion, it is extremely likely it will progress to heat stroke, the most severe case of heat illnesses.
There are three different types of hyperthermia – heat stress, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.
While it is common for people to use these terms interchangeably, the conditions are different, varying in severity.
Jay Lakin
2025-08-06 18:45:40
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Early signs of heatstroke in pet animals can include panting, this can progress to distressed or noisy breathing as the heatstroke worsens. Restlessness or agitation, pacing, seeking shade or water, drooling, red gums or tongue, increased heart rate, vomiting or diarrhoea are also signs. Advanced stages of heatstroke in pets can include lethargy, confusion, weakness or collapse, seizures.
The early signs are similar in dogs and cats, although in cats the signs are often more subtle.
Lethargy, confusion, weakness or collapse, seizures are signs of advanced stages of heatstroke in pets.
Shaun Leannon
2025-07-29 13:38:01
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: 19
The three stages of heatstroke are 1) heat stress, 2) heat exhaustion, and 3) heatstroke. The symptoms are generally more severe with each stage that passes. Heat exhaustion is the second stage, but the article does not provide specific symptoms for each stage, instead listing 13 indications that a dog may be suffering from heatstroke, including heavy panting and difficulty breathing, excessive drooling, lethargy or drowsiness, and a higher heart rate. A temperature over 103°F is also a sign of heatstroke.
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