How to Tell If Your Dog is Overheating in the Las Vegas Heat

If you’re walking your dog in Las Vegas — whether it’s just around the block or through a shaded part of Red Rock — you’ve probably wondered at some point: how hot is too hot? The dry desert air can be deceptive. Even when you’re not sweating, your dog might already be overheating. Knowing the signs early could save their life — and in a place like Vegas, where temps soar past 100°F and asphalt can burn skin in seconds, those signs can appear fast.

The Most Common Signs of Overheating

Let’s start with what you’re most likely to see first: heavy panting. All dogs pant to cool down, but when the heat is too much, it gets intense. We’re talking frantic breathing, long tongue hanging out, and quick shallow breaths. It’s your dog’s way of saying, “I can’t keep up.”

Right behind that comes excessive drooling — not just slobbery, but thick or foamy saliva that may hang from their mouth or soak their fur. That’s a major red flag, especially when paired with other symptoms like glazed eyes, wobbliness, or sudden fatigue. If your dog starts walking unevenly, lies down and won’t get up, or seems “out of it,” that’s heat exhaustion in action.

Keep an eye on their gums and tongue too. In Vegas heat, dogs suffering from overheating often show bright red or purplish gums, sometimes even sticky to the touch. If your dog starts vomiting or has diarrhea shortly after being outside, that’s another serious sign that things have gone too far.

And don’t wait to see if it passes. Heatstroke in dogs progresses quickly — and once the symptoms are obvious, it’s already an emergency.

What to Do If You Think Your Dog Is Overheating

The moment you suspect something’s wrong, here’s what to do:

• Get them out of the heat immediately — indoors or at least into the shade.
• Offer small amounts of cool water (not ice cold).
• Wet their paws, underbelly, and ears with cool — not cold — water.
• Do not use ice or dunk them in freezing water, which can cause shock.
• Call your vet or head to the nearest animal ER right away.

In Vegas, even a few minutes too long in the sun can trigger a cascade of symptoms. Most local emergency vets are familiar with heatstroke cases — don’t hesitate to act fast.

Why Dogs Overheat Faster in Las Vegas

Las Vegas’s desert heat is especially hard on dogs for a few reasons. First, it’s bone dry, which speeds up evaporation — but also dehydration. Second, asphalt and concrete surfaces can reach 140°F or more, making even a shaded walk dangerous. And finally, dogs can’t sweat the way humans can. They cool down through their paws, mouth, and ears — and in Vegas, all of those work less effectively under extreme conditions.

Even in the early morning or late evening, the residual heat from the day can linger on the ground. That’s why many Vegas locals stick to indoor playtime, turf relief stations, or cooling vests for short outings. Prevention is everything here.