Which signs indicate heat stress or overheating in a field environment?

• A. Excessive panting, bright red tongue, lethargy, staggering, vomiting, collapse; core temperature above 39.5–40 C
• B. Shivering in cold
• C. Normal appetite
• D. Cool skin

Answer: (A)

Heat stress happens when a dog can’t shed heat fast enough in hot field conditions. The most telling signs are excessive panting and a bright red tongue, showing the body’s active cooling effort. As overheating worsens, mental status and coordination decline, so lethargy and staggering appear, and the dog may vomit and even collapse. A core temperature above about 39.5–40 C confirms overheating and signals an urgent need for cooling and veterinary care. The other options don’t fit overheating: shivering in cold points to hypothermia, normal appetite isn’t a sign of heat stress, and cool skin suggests the dog isn’t overheating rather than suffering from it.