Heatstroke

· Frantic, noisy panting that does not slow down
· Thick, ropey drool
· Bright red gums early, then very pale or blue-tinged
· Unsteadiness, stumbling, glassy eyes
· Vomiting or diarrhea, sometimes bloody
· Collapse, seizures, unresponsiveness — these are late and grave

· Get them out of the heat and into shade or air conditioning
· Pour or hose COOL — not ice cold — water over them continuously, especially the belly, armpits and groin
· Move air over them: a fan, or the car's air conditioning on the drive
· Offer small amounts of cool water if they are conscious and able to drink. Never force it.
· GO TO A VET even if they seem to recover. Organ damage and clotting problems appear hours later, and the dog who looks fine at the roadside can die overnight.

· Do not waste time hunting for water at the 'right' temperature — any water cooler than the dog helps, and cold tap water is fine. Avoid packing them in ice; the aim is to move heat out fast, not to make the surface as cold as possible
· Do not cover them with a wet towel and leave it — a trapped wet towel holds heat in. Keep the water moving.
· Do not wait to see if they improve

Flat-faced breeds above all — Bulldogs, Frenchies, Pugs and Boxers overheat at temperatures other dogs tolerate comfortably. Also the overweight, the very young and very old, thick double coats, dark coats, and any dog with heart or airway disease.

There is no safe version. A car reaches lethal temperatures within minutes on a mild day, in shade, with the windows cracked. Not for a quick errand, not with the engine running, not ever.

· Walk at dawn and dusk in summer, not midday
· The seven-second pavement test — back of your hand on the ground; if you cannot hold it, neither can they
· Water always available, and offered before they ask
· Shade that moves with the sun, not a spot that is shaded at 9am and baking at 2pm
· Never shave a double coat — it insulates against heat too

Timing, water and shade. Nothing on this page needs buying.

· American Veterinary Medical Association (avma.org) — hot weather safety
· Merck Veterinary Manual — heat stroke in dogs
· Royal Veterinary College VetCompass studies on canine heat-related illness — including the finding that exertion, not just parked cars, causes most cases