Get Your Pet Into a Cooler Area Immediately
If your dog has been outdoors on a hot day and is suddenly showing signs of hyperthermia, it’s important that you move quickly to cool him or her down. Bringing the pet to cooled air indoors is the fastest way to bring down his or her body temperature. But what if you can’t go indoors, or the air inside isn’t cool enough for your pet? You can use a hard plastic kiddie pool filled with water outdoors to help your Shih Tzu cool down, or you can put him or her in a bathtub full of cool water. It’s important to note that cooling your pet down too quickly can also be dangerous, so make sure that the water is cool, not cold, or that you don’t do something drastic like put your pet directly in front of a window air conditioning unit or vent. You can also use wet towels if a tub or pool is not readily available. You may also notice that common signs of hyperthermia, such as heavy panting or vomiting, may be reduced as the temperature drops.
