Should your dog or cat begin to exhibit signs of heatstroke, offer a drink of cool—not cold—water. You can also use cool water to wet your pet’s fur, focusing on areas like the belly, paw pads, and around the ears. You can also place cool, wet towels on these areas. Take care to cool them down gradually, as you don’t want to trigger dangerous blood pressure changes. You should also try to move them to a cooler area, or provide shade with an umbrella or canopy.
Your pet’s body temperature should decrease and they should begin to improve in 10 minutes. Stop cooling efforts when the body temperature reaches 102.5 degrees to prevent them from becoming too cold, as their temperature will continue to drop.
It’s important to remember, even if your pet seems to recover, it’s essential to seek veterinary attention immediately to determine if there is any internal damage from heat stroke.