Dog heat rash is best handled by cooling your dog down, keeping the skin clean and dry, and letting your vet check anything red, oozing or itchy. Skip leftover human creams and medicated products unless your vet recommends them. What looks like a heat rash is often a hot spot, allergy, or bacterial or yeast infection, and those need proper treatment.
General information, not veterinary advice. Call your vet if the rash is painful, spreading, oozing or doesn’t improve in a day or two.
What heat rash looks like
- Red, irritated skin or small bumps, often on the belly, armpits, groin, or skin folds
- Itching, licking or chewing at the area
- Warm skin after hot weather, exercise or time in a car or humid room
Dogs with thick coats, flat faces and skin folds, such as bulldogs and pugs, are more likely to get irritated skin in heat. Overweight dogs are at risk too.
Safe steps you can take at home
- Move your dog somewhere cool. Air conditioning, shade or a tile floor works. Offer fresh water.
- Rinse with cool water. Gently wash the area with lukewarm to cool water. Cold ice packs directly on the skin are too harsh.
- Dry thoroughly. Pat dry, especially in skin folds. Moisture makes yeast and bacteria grow.
- Keep the area clean. Wash bedding in hot water and let your dog rest on a clean, breathable surface.
- Stop licking. A soft e-collar or recovery suit prevents your dog from making the rash worse.
- Trim long hair around the irritated spot if your dog tolerates it, or ask a groomer to do it. Do not shave a double-coated dog to the skin, since the coat helps protect from heat and sun.
Things to avoid
- Human hydrocortisone, creams and ointments. If a dog licks them off, they can cause stomach upset or other problems.
- Baking soda pastes, essential oils and tea tree oil. These can irritate the skin and tea tree oil is toxic to dogs.
- Over-bathing. Too many baths dry out the skin and can make itching worse.
When to see the vet
Book a visit if you see pus, a bad smell, open sores, hair loss, a fever, swelling, or if your dog is itchy all the time. Your vet can diagnose whether it is heat rash, allergies or an infection and prescribe the right treatment. Red skin with panting, drooling, weakness or vomiting can also be a sign of heatstroke, which is an emergency.
Prevention
- Avoid walks in the hottest part of the day and never leave your dog in a parked car.
- Brush regularly to remove loose undercoat.
- Keep skin folds clean and dry.
- Maintain a healthy weight and provide shade and water at all times.
- If your dog’s skin is often irritated, ask your vet whether food allergies could be involved. Our post on dog food and yeast infections and Hill’s hypoallergenic dog food may help you ask the right questions.
Bottom Line
Cool, clean and dry is the safe approach for a mild heat rash. Avoid human creams and oils, and see your vet if the skin does not clear quickly or your dog seems uncomfortable.
