You need to watch for heatstroke symptoms such as restlessness, excessive thirst, thick saliva, heavy panting, lethargic, lack of appetite, dark colored tongue, rapid heartbeat, fever, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and lack of coordination. If a dog shows any of these symptoms, get he/she out of the heat, preferably into an air-conditioned car, and then to a vet immediately. If you are unable to transport the dog yourself, take he/she into an air-conditioned building if possible and call animal control and tell them it’s an EMERGENCY!!!

Give the dog some water to drink, and if possible spray he/she with a garden hose or immerse he/she in a tub of cool (not iced) water for up to 2 minutes in order to lower the body temperature gradually. You can also place the dog in front of an electric fan. Applying cool, wet towels to the groin area, stomach, chest, and paws can also help. Be careful not to use ice or cold water, and don’t over cool the dog.