Dog Heatstroke in Australia: Signs, First Aid and Vet Costs (2026)
By Dogthings Editorial · Updated 2026-11-04
Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products and services we'd use with our own dogs.
- Start cooling immediately — get into shade or air-conditioning and pour cool or tap water over the whole body, especially the belly, neck and legs. Keep the water moving and use a fan if you have one.
- Any cool water works — don't delay looking for the "right" temperature. Don't drape wet towels over your dog; they trap heat.
- Call your vet or nearest emergency vet and keep cooling on the way, with the car's air-conditioning on high.
- Offer small amounts of water if your dog is alert, but never force it to drink.
- Go to the vet even if your dog seems to recover. Heatstroke can damage the kidneys, gut and clotting hours later.
Signs of heatstroke: heavy panting that won't settle, a bright red or dark tongue and gums, thick drool, restlessness then weakness, wobbliness, vomiting or diarrhoea. Collapse, seizures or blue-grey gums mean an emergency.
Heatstroke is one of the most common summer emergencies vets see. PetSure's 2022 claims data put the average dog heatstroke claim at about $2,350, with the largest at $28,628. Most cases aren't dogs left in cars: in a large UK study, about three in four heatstroke cases were triggered by exercise, and around 14% of all cases were fatal.
What heatstroke treatment costs
| Case | Typical AU cost | What's involved |
|---|---|---|
| Mild heat stress | $300–$1,000 | Consult, active cooling, fluids, blood tests, a few hours of monitoring |
| Moderate heatstroke | $1,500–$5,000 | Hospital stay, IV fluids, oxygen, repeat bloods, gut and kidney protection |
| Severe heatstroke | $5,000–$28,000+ | Intensive care, plasma or blood transfusions, treatment for clotting failure and organ damage |
The biggest driver of cost and survival is how long the dog stays hot. Cooling on the spot, before and during the trip to the vet, is the single most useful thing an owner can do.
Breeds most at risk
Flat-faced (brachycephalic) dogs are at much higher risk because their airways can't shed heat by panting as well — a UK emergency-clinic study found they had about four times the odds of heat-related illness. Thick-coated, giant and overweight dogs, and dogs that won't stop playing or working, are also at higher risk.
- French Bulldog — flat face, narrow airway
- Pug — flat face, narrow airway
- English Bulldog — flat face, heavy build
- Boxer — short muzzle, athletic
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel — short muzzle
- Shih Tzu — short muzzle, long coat
- Siberian Husky — thick double coat, high drive
- Samoyed — thick double coat
- Bernese Mountain Dog — giant, thick coat
- Golden Retriever — heavy coat, keeps playing when hot
- Labrador Retriever — keeps playing when hot, often overweight
- Border Collie — won't stop working or chasing
See flat-faced dogs in Australia for the airway problems behind the risk.
Does pet insurance cover heatstroke?
Usually, yes — most Australian accident and illness policies cover heatstroke, as long as cover started before it happened and any waiting period has passed. Knose's accident waiting period is 1 day and illness is 14 days; check how your insurer classifies heatstroke in its PDS. Severe cases can be expensive, so check the annual limit too.
Two approved Australian insurers: Knose (flexible excess) and PetsOnMe (three cover levels).
How to prevent heatstroke
- Walk at dawn or after dark in summer, and skip the walk on very hot or humid days. Test the footpath with your hand — if it's too hot for 5 seconds, it's too hot for paws.
- Stop play early. Ball-mad and working dogs won't stop on their own; exercise is the most common trigger.
- Never leave a dog in a parked car, even with windows down or for a few minutes. It can also be an offence under state animal welfare laws.
- Shade, water and airflow at home — cool tiles, a fan or air-conditioning, and more than one water bowl.
- Keep your dog lean. Extra weight insulates and strains breathing.
- Brush thick coats out rather than shaving double-coated breeds; the coat helps insulate them from heat.
Frequently asked questions
How much does dog heatstroke treatment cost in Australia?
PetSure's 2022 claims data put the average dog heatstroke claim at about $2,350, with the largest at $28,628. Mild cases may cost a few hundred dollars; dogs that need several days of intensive care can run into five figures.
What are the first signs of heatstroke in a dog?
Heavy panting that doesn't settle, a bright red or dark tongue and gums, thick drool, restlessness or weakness, wobbliness, vomiting or diarrhoea. Collapse, seizures or blue-grey gums are an emergency.
What should I do if my dog has heatstroke?
Start cooling straight away with cool or tap water over the whole body (not just the head), in the shade or with a fan, and keep cooling on the way to the vet. Don't drape wet towels over the dog, and don't force it to drink. Every dog with heatstroke signs needs a vet, even if it seems to recover.
Does pet insurance cover heatstroke?
Most accident and illness policies cover heatstroke, as long as cover started before the event and any waiting period has passed. Check how your insurer classifies it (accident or illness) in the PDS.
What temperature is too hot to walk a dog?
There's no single number, but risk climbs sharply in the high 20s and above, especially with humidity, and hot footpaths can burn paws. In summer walk at dawn or after dark, and skip it on very hot days.
Related reading
- Dog snake bite cost in Australia
- Paralysis tick treatment cost for dogs
- Flat-faced dogs in Australia
- Best pet insurance Australia 2026
Sources: PetSure claims data (heatstroke, 2022); VetCompass study of heat-related illness in UK dogs under primary veterinary care (2016 data); study of heat-related illness in dogs under UK emergency veterinary care (2022). General information only, not veterinary advice — if your dog shows heatstroke signs, cool it and see a vet immediately.