How to Prevent Heatstroke in Dogs: A Fairfax Summer Guide

August in Fairfax is not the dry kind of hot. It is the kind where the air sits still and a ten minute walk feels like thirty. Your dog feels that more than you do.

Dr. Molly Tango, DVM, at our sister hospital Columbia Pike Animal Hospital and Emergency Center, explains what heatstroke looks like. The prevention side is where pet parents have the most control.

Why is humidity harder on dogs than heat alone?

Dogs cool themselves mainly by panting. Air moves across wet tissue, moisture evaporates, and heat leaves with it. It only works if the air can accept more moisture.

On a humid Northern Virginia afternoon the air is already close to full. Panting keeps happening, but far less heat actually leaves.

How do you prevent heatstroke in dogs?

Prevention is most of the job, and none of it is complicated.

Move walks and play to early morning or late evening. Midday exercise in July and August is the single most avoidable risk on this list. Keep fresh water everywhere your dog spends time, indoors and out. Add real shade to the yard, not a spot that will be shady in an hour.

On the hottest days, shorten the outing rather than skipping it. Check the pavement with the back of your hand first. If you cannot hold it there comfortably, it is too hot for paws. And never leave your dog in a parked car, not even with the windows down. The interior climbs about 20 degrees in 10 minutes and close to 30 degrees in 20, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Which dogs need the most protection?

Flat faced breeds are first. Pugs, French bulldogs, and English bulldogs have airway anatomy that makes panting much less efficient, so their main cooling system is already working harder than everyone else's.

Senior dogs regulate temperature less well than they used to. Overweight dogs carry insulation they cannot take off. Northern breeds with thick double coats hold heat a short coated dog would release. If your dog is on that list, plan your summer around the 80s rather than the 90s.

Flat faced breeds have the least efficient cooling system of any dog in the building.

What are the warning signs?

The signal is not that your dog is panting. It is that the panting will not stop.

What do you do in the first five minutes?

Get out of the heat. Inside, air conditioning, fan on the dog. Wet the paws and belly with cool water. Not cold, and no ice. Cold water tightens the blood vessels at the surface and slows the cooling you are trying to create.

Then get them seen right away. Heatstroke can keep causing internal damage after a dog looks better on the outside.

Where do you go after we close?

We are open Monday through Friday 7am to 8pm and Saturday 8am to 5pm. Call us at (703) 273-2110 and we will get your dog in.

Sundays, late nights, and holidays are the gap, and heat does not keep business hours. This is the number worth saving before you need it.

Call the 24/7 ER: (703) 256-8414Get directions to Annandale

Same family of hospitals as ours, about 20 minutes away. You can also read more about their emergency service.

What else do pet parents ask us?

Is panting always a bad sign?
No. Panting is how dogs cool down and is completely normal. The concern is panting that does not ease after several minutes of rest somewhere cool, especially with heavy drool or bright red gums.

Should I put ice on an overheating dog?
No. Use cool water on the paws and belly along with a fan. Ice and cold water tighten the blood vessels near the skin, which slows cooling rather than speeding it up.

Can I still walk my dog in the summer?
Yes. Go early or late, keep it shorter, bring water, and check the pavement first. Flat faced, senior, overweight, and thick coated dogs need a more cautious version of all of that.

My dog seemed fine an hour later. Do I still need them seen?
Yes. Internal damage from heatstroke can continue after the outward signs improve, so having them checked is the only way to know what actually happened.

Does a summer checkup help?
It does, particularly for senior, overweight, and flat faced dogs. A Fear Free Appointment gives us a chance to look at weight, airway, and heart and lung function before the hottest weeks. Call (703) 273-2110 to book one.

Ready to get ahead of it?

If your dog is flat faced, a senior, carrying extra weight, or built for a colder climate than this one, the best time to talk about summer is before the next heat wave. We are Fear Free Certified as a practice, so the visit itself is built to keep your dog calm from the parking lot forward.

Book a Fear Free AppointmentCall us: (703) 273-2110

9836 Fairfax Blvd, Fairfax, VA 22030
(703) 273-2110
Monday to Friday 7am to 8pm  ·  Saturday 8am to 5pm  ·  Sunday closed
Love People. Love Pets.