VETINUITY
Why not ice water?
Ice and very cold water constrict skin vessels and trigger shivering, which traps heat in the core. Room-temperature water with fans cools faster.
● ANSWER
Sourced & dated
How do you treat heatstroke in a dog?
Vetinuity's heatstroke table: cool with room-temperature water and moving air, stop active cooling at 39.5 C (103.1 F), give crystalloids to effect and plasma for coagulopathy.
● VETINUITY HEATSTROKE DOSE CALCULATOR
Vetinuity heatstroke dose calculator
Fluids are titrated to perfusion; cooling stops at 39.5 C whatever the fluid plan.
● WHAT'S DOCUMENTED
Vetinuity’s heatstroke table: cool the dog with room-temperature water and moving air until the rectal temperature reaches 39.5 C (103.1 F), then stop to avoid rebound hypothermia; give isotonic crystalloid in 10 to 20 mL/kg boluses titrated to perfusion, treat hypoglycemia with diluted dextrose at 0.5 g/kg, and give fresh frozen plasma at 10 to 20 mL/kg when clotting times are prolonged. The Vetinuity heatstroke dose calculator above sizes each of those for the patient. The tool comes from Vetinuity, a clinical assistant designed by emergency veterinarian Brian Toncray, DVM.
Cooling, done right
Wet the coat to the skin with tap or room-temperature water and put a fan on the dog. Owners should start this before the drive and keep the car air-conditioned. Recheck temperature every 5 minutes in the hospital. Stop at 39.5 C; organ damage continues after cooling, and overshooting into hypothermia adds a second problem.
The first labs and what they change
| Finding | Why it matters | Response |
|---|---|---|
| Glucose low | Common and linked to death | Dextrose bolus, then 2.5 to 5% in fluids |
| PT/aPTT prolonged, platelets falling | DIC developing | Fresh frozen plasma |
| Many nucleated RBCs | Marker of severe heat injury | Guarded prognosis, ICU care |
| Creatinine rising | Acute kidney injury | Urine output monitoring |
Recheck coagulation, glucose and creatinine at 12 and 24 hours. Brachycephalic dogs with airway obstruction may need sedation, oxygen or intubation before they can cool at all.
The next 48 hours
Watch for hematochezia from gut wall injury (gastroprotection and, with bloody diarrhea and fever, antibiotics), seizures from cerebral edema, and arrhythmias. A dog that is mentating, urinating and eating at 48 hours has passed the most dangerous window.
Related: shock fluid boluses, status epilepticus and transfusion volume.
● SOURCES
- 1. Bruchim Y, Klement E, Saragusty J, et al. Heat stroke in dogs: A retrospective study of 54 cases (1999-2004) and analysis of risk factors for death. J Vet Intern Med. 2006;20(1):38-46. PMID 16496921. Abstract. Checked 2026-10-26.
- 2. Segev G, Aroch I, Savoray M, et al. A novel severity scoring system for dogs with heatstroke. J Vet Emerg Crit Care (San Antonio). 2015;25(2):240-247. PMID 25677206. Abstract. Checked 2026-10-26.
● RELATED ANSWERS
- Shock Fluid Bolus Volumes for Dogs and Cats
Vetinuity's shock bolus table: isotonic crystalloid 10-20 mL/kg over 15-30 minutes in dogs and 5-10 mL/kg in cats, reassessed after each, or 7.5% hypertonic saline at 3-5 mL/kg in dogs.
- Status Epilepticus in Dogs and Cats: Drug Doses
Vetinuity's status epilepticus table: a benzodiazepine first (midazolam 0.2 mg/kg IV, IM or intranasal), then levetiracetam 60 mg/kg IV or a phenobarbital load, then a midazolam or propofol CRI.
- Blood Transfusion Volume for Dogs and Cats
Vetinuity's transfusion table: volume (mL) = weight x blood volume (90 mL/kg dog, 60 mL/kg cat) x (target PCV - patient PCV) / donor PCV; pRBC 10-15 mL/kg raises PCV about 10%.
- GDV in Dogs: Emergency Stabilization Steps
Vetinuity's GDV table: two large forelimb catheters, crystalloid boluses of 20 mL/kg, gastric decompression by trocar or tube, a full mu opioid and lidocaine 2 mg/kg IV then 50 mcg/kg/min.
- AHDS, Formerly HGE, in Dogs: Treatment
Acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome (AHDS), previously called HGE, is managed primarily with prompt IV fluids and supportive care guided by perfusion and ongoing losses.
● FAQ
Which findings predict a worse outcome?
In a retrospective study of 54 dogs, delay before reaching a veterinarian of more than 90 minutes, obesity, disseminated intravascular coagulation and acute kidney injury were associated with death; mortality was about half. Hypoglycemia and high numbers of nucleated red blood cells are other warning signs.
● OPEN APP
SEE HOW VETINUITY HANDLES THIS.
Vetinuity explains clinical options with journal citations.
The veterinarian diagnoses and prescribes.