My dog was in the heat without water. How do I know if he's okay?

Hi. This is hard to say. But you can determine if he has a fever by checking it with a digital thermometer rectally, then discard the thermometer. Normal temp is 99-102.5. At rest. Get him checked out if he has a true fever. Good luck

I would first avoid those activities that cause overheating in your pet to begin with. Then if he does get overheated, cooling him off with topical cool water or a water bath is ideal. Just make sure he doesn't drop his temperature too low and never ever use ice cubes or fans to speed up the process. Use caution as wel because overheated pets can have a life threatening heat stroke if their core body temperature gets above 105 degrees Fahrenheit or so.

If you have a thermometer you can take her temperature to check if she is overheated. You can lubricate the thermometer with vaseline/ky jelly/ or similar lubricant and insert about an inch into the rectum. If her temperature is over 102.5 then it is high. If she is acting lethargic and not eating or drinking well then these symptoms are concerning and should be investigated by a vet. There are many possibilities for these symptoms because they are so general. The vet may be able to narrow down causes with an exam, or they may need to do bloodwork on your dog for a better idea of the cause. If her temperature is high then she could have a fever or if it is very warm in your house could be suffering from heat stroke. You have done the right thing bathing her in cool water and providing a fan but she still needs to see a vet because there can be long term consequences such as severe GI irritation and infection if a dog has suffered heat stroke.

Dogs can handle the heat fine if they are lazy and not expending much energy. You can give him cool water with a small amount of chicken broth in it to encourage drinking, or add some water to his food. Using a fan to circulate the air may cool you both. Take him for a slow walk tonight after it cools down. It doesn't sound like there is anything wrong, he'll probably perk up when it cools down. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Houdini.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If the increased water drinking is only after playing (no matter the length of time) in 95 F weather then that is normal. That is hot weather for a thick coated dog. I would limit his time outside to only 5-10 mins when it is that hot. At this time I do not think he needs blood work. If he is drinking a lot with minimal activity in the cool weather then maybe he does. Good luck!

If she is acting fine otherwise the it is probably just normal for her. Continue to monitor her and have her examined by a vet if her signs persist or worsen. Your vet can check a urine sample to see if there is a problem.

If your dog had been exercising or out in the heat it is possible his temperature could have increased due to this, but 104.1 is a pretty high temperature if you feel it was truly an accurate reading. We can see dogs temperatures get that high if they are really hot/excited/stressed and they are overweight or brachycephalic (smoosh faced) but I am concerned that his energy level was decreased. If he still doesn't seem himself tomorrow then I would bring him in for an exam. If overnight his temperature gets very high again, or he becomes weak, has trouble breathing, or his gums become pale in color or he starts having other symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea then I would consider bringing him in to the emergency vet.