How do I tell if my dog is too hot?

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. Always ensure that pets have adequate ventilation, shade, and water, and never leave them in vehicles during hot weather.

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 is a sign that it’s time to cease all activity and get your dog to a cool place with plenty of water. Depression, slowed pace or motor skills, and lowered tail carriage can also indicate a dog is not feeling well due to overheating. Rapid heartbeat is another symptom of overheating in dogs, as they begin to get dehydrated and their heart beats faster to compensate. Dogs cannot regulate their body temperature by sweating the way people do, instead they rely on panting and behaviors like digging or finding a shaded area. While most adult dogs are good at controlling their body temperatures, problems can arise when they’re put into stressful situations or placed somewhere where they can’t find a place to cool down. As a dog’s body temperature rises, the dog compensates by panting, which draws colder air to the back of the throat and across the tongue, cooling the blood circulating to the core of the dog.

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. Changes in gum color or tongue, such as bright or dark red, could be a sign of heat stress. Healthy gums should be a nice pink color. Elevated body temperature is also a sign, if your furry friend feels noticeably warm, it’s time to get them to a cool place indoors. Increased pulse and heartbeat can be a sign your dog is overheating, 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 can also be a sign, if your dog seems confused, disoriented, or has trouble walking, they could be suffering from heatstroke.

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, however, you should be alarmed by excessive and abnormal drooling when the temperature is hot. 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, which 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.

Any excessive panting is your first warning sign that your dog is overheating. So, if you see this, don’t wait for any more symptoms – get them cooled down immediately. Life-threatening warning signs Once overheating has developed, your dog may: Become restless and show discomfort Vomit or have diarrhoea Drool excessively Have an increased heart rate Lose coordination, have seizures or muscle tremors. You may notice them panting. This is another dog cooling technique that can work but is not hugely effective.