Last Updated: 25/08/2026
How Vets Treat Heatstroke in Dogs
What happens at the vet for canine heatstroke: diagnosis, IV fluids, oxygen and more, plus what recovery and long-term outlook look like.
Author: Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)
Reading Time: 5 minutes - short read
If your dog is showing signs of heatstroke right now, don't wait to read this, start cooling them down and get to a vet immediately. Our guide to Heatstroke in Dogs: Signs & First Aid covers what to do right now.
Once you're at the clinic, here's what to expect from diagnosis through to recovery.
How do vets diagnose heatstroke?
Your veterinarian will make a diagnosis of heatstroke following an examination based on their symptoms, a history of exposure and their body temperature. Information you provide to your vet about the events preceding your dog's symptoms can be critical for making an accurate diagnosis. Remember that health conditions such as infection and seizures can also raise the body temperature and your vet will want to rule out these as an underlying cause for their hyperthermia.
How do vets treat heatstroke?
Your veterinarian will make a diagnosis of heatstroke following an examination based on their symptoms, a history of exposure and their body temperature. Information you provide to your vet about the events preceding your dog's symptoms can be critical for making an accurate diagnosis. Remember that health conditions such as infection and seizures can also raise the body temperature and your vet will want to rule out these as an underlying cause for their hyperthermia.
Treatment of heatstroke may involve:
- Commencement or continuation of emergency cooling
- Intravenous (IV) fluids to manage dehydration, shock and cool the body internally
- Oxygen therapy
- Anaesthesia and intubation for patients with respiratory difficulties or that are unconscious
- Gastroprotectants or anti-nausea medications for patients with vomiting and/or diarrhoea
- Antibiotics to prevent a secondary infection
- If required, cardiac medications.
Once cooling is in effect, your vet may recommend blood tests to assess the level of dehydration, look for clotting issues, assess organ function and determine the success of treatment. Prolonged hyperthermia can lead to clotting disorders and internal bleeding, so it is important to assess for these. If your dog has developed clotting problems, a blood or plasma transfusion may be required.
What's the recovery and long-term outlook after heatstroke?
After initial cooling, your pet will be hospitalised for close observation and supportive care. Depending on the severity, they may need to be treated in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Early diagnosis and aggressive treatment are the most important factors in determining the prognosis.
How heatstroke affects the body: a core body temperature above 41C can cause essential proteins in the body's cells to break down (denature). This widespread cellular damage can lead to multiple organ failure and systemic shock. The higher the body temperature and the longer the exposure, the more severe the internal damage will be.
Prognosis and recovery: heatstroke is a life-threatening emergency and, unfortunately, the prognosis is often poor - it can be fatal or cause permanent damage despite treatment. The first 24 hours of treatment are the most critical; pets that survive this initial period are likely to recover, and most surviving pets recover fully without long-term complications. A hospital stay typically lasts for 2-3 days, but can be up to a week for more severe cases.
Care after your pet comes home: your pet will need plenty of rest in a cool, comfortable environment for at least two weeks after being discharged. Your vet may recommend follow-up blood tests 1-2 weeks later to check for any lasting organ damage and determine if ongoing care is needed.
Long-term risks: a pet that has experienced heatstroke is more susceptible to it happening again. The condition can damage the part of the brain that regulates body temperature, meaning they may not be able to cool themselves down as effectively in the future. For these pets, ongoing prevention and vigilance during warm weather are even more important.
Heatstroke FAQs
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History
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Tue 25 Aug 2026
Written by Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)
Veterinarian
Dr. Gillian graduated from the University of Sydney in 2005 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science. She worked in a number of small animal clinics, before joining the Pet Circle Vet team in 2020. Dr. Gillian has special interests in ultrasonography, surgery and behaviour. Her favourite part of being a vet is being an advocate for the animals. She loves helping owners to make the best, evidence-based decisions for their pets, and seeing the beautiful bond that people have with their fur-babies.
