Field Guide · Glossary
Heatstroke
Health and safetyA medical emergency in which a dog's body temperature rises beyond the point at which they can cool themselves back down.
How it works
It develops faster than people expect and is fatal without prompt treatment. In dogs it is set off by exertion far more often than by a parked car, which is the version most people picture, so a normal walk on a hot day is the more common scenario. Panting is the main cooling mechanism, and it becomes less effective as humidity rises, which is why warm and humid conditions are more dangerous than warm and dry ones at the same temperature.
What it looks like
A dog is walked at the usual pace on a humid afternoon. Ten minutes in they are panting heavily, slowing, and unsteady on their feet. Nothing about the route changed. The conditions did.
Commonly confused with
- Brachycephalic
- Brachycephalic is a physical structure that makes cooling harder and raises the risk. Heatstroke is the emergency itself, and it happens to dogs of every shape.
Related terms
Where this comes up