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Heatstroke can be the serious and often fatal result of a dog’s prolonged exposure to excessive heat. Below are the signs of heatstroke and the actions you should take if your dog is overcome.

Early Stages:
Heavy panting
Rapid breathing
Excessive drooling
Bright red gums and tongue
Spreading out in an attempt to maintain balance

Advanced Stages:
White or blue gums
Lethargy, unwillingness to move
Uncontrollable urination or defecation
Labored, noisy breathing
Shock

If your dog begins to exhibit signs of heatstroke, you should immediately try to cool the dog down:
Apply rubbing alcohol to the dog’s paw pads
Apply ice packs to the groin area
Hose down with water
Allow the dog to lick ice chips or drink a small amount of water
Offer Pedialyte to restore electrolytes
Check your dog’s temperature regularly during this process. Once the dog’s temperature has stabilized at between 100 to 102 degrees, you can stop the cool-down process.

If you cannot get the dog cooled down and you begin to see signs of advanced heatstroke, take the dog to the veterinarian immediately.