Emergencies DogsCats
Heatstroke in dogs and cats: signs, first aid and prevention
Bangladesh summers can kill pets. How to recognise heatstroke, cool your pet safely on the way to the vet, and keep dogs and cats cool from April to September.
Key takeaways
- Heavy panting, drooling and collapse in heat = emergency.
- Cool with cool water and airflow — not ice, not a wet towel wrap.
- Go to the vet even if your pet seems to recover.
- Never leave a pet in a parked vehicle, even for a few minutes.
On this page
Rangpur’s summer days regularly pass 35 °C with heavy humidity. Dogs and cats can’t sweat like we do — they cool mainly by panting — and when the air is hot and wet, that stops working. Heatstroke can kill within hours.
Who is most at risk?
- Flat-faced breeds — Pugs, Shih Tzus, Persian cats
- Overweight and older pets
- Thick-coated dogs, like German Shepherds and Huskies
- Puppies and pets with heart or breathing problems
- Any pet left in a vehicle, tied in the sun, or without water and shade
Signs
- Heavy, noisy panting; open-mouth breathing in cats
- Thick drooling
- Bright red — or later pale or grey — gums
- Vomiting or diarrhoea
- Wobbliness, confusion
- Collapse or seizures
First aid — right now
- Move your pet into shade or a cool room with a fan.
- Pour cool (not ice-cold) water over the body, belly and paws, and let air flow over the wet coat.
- Offer small sips of water — don’t force it.
- Don’t wrap your pet in a wet towel — it traps heat.
- Go to the vet now, cooling on the way. Heatstroke damages kidneys, the gut and blood clotting even when a pet seems to recover.
Call 01783-121256 while travelling. See our emergency first-aid page.
Prevention
- Walk dogs early morning or after sunset. Test the road with your hand — if it’s too hot for 5 seconds, it’s too hot for paws.
- Always provide shade and fresh water; add extra bowls in summer.
- Never leave a pet in a car or CNG, even “just for a minute”.
- Give indoor pets a cool floor or wet towel to lie on.
- Keep pets at a healthy weight — our food calculator helps.
- Plan vet trips from far districts for cooler hours — see travel tips.
Not sure how serious it is? The symptom checker treats heat collapse as an emergency.
This guide is general information, not a diagnosis. If your pet is unwell, call us or visit a registered veterinarian.
Frequently asked questions
What temperature is too hot for a dog?
Risk rises sharply when it's above about 30 °C with high humidity — normal Bangladesh summer weather. Flat-faced, overweight, old and thick-coated dogs are at risk at lower temperatures.
Do cats get heatstroke?
Less often than dogs, but yes. Open-mouth panting in a cat is always a warning sign.
Should I shave my dog in summer?
Not usually. Most coats insulate against heat as well as cold, and shaving can cause sunburn. Regular brushing to remove dead undercoat helps more.
Why is ice water bad for cooling?
Ice-cold water makes blood vessels in the skin constrict, which traps heat inside. Cool tap water and moving air cool the body faster and more safely.