Heat stroke is a life-threatening emergency in dogs that is almost entirely preventable, with brachycephalic breeds, working dogs, and dogs left in vehicles at highest risk.
Heat stroke causes acute, severe welfare compromise — confusion, collapse, multi-organ failure, and death without prompt intervention. The period before clinical collapse involves extreme thermal distress with panting, anxiety, and weakness that represents significant suffering. Prevention is straightforward but requires consistent owner behaviour change: never leaving dogs in parked vehicles, avoiding exercise during midday heat, providing constant shade and water, and recognising early signs of heat stress. Brachycephalic breeds are at elevated risk year-round. Public awareness campaigns specifically targeting vehicle-related heat stroke are the highest-impact welfare intervention at population scale.