Animal Friends,
never make the mistake of throwing cold water on an overheated dog or put a wet towel on his back. That is counterproductive.
By cold the arteries will constrict and by high temperature (above 42C°), the proteins in the blood clot causing the blood becomes thick and syrupy.
By the combination of both the heart's blood can no longer get around and fail piece by piece from a lack of oxygen to the organs. A very slow but very painful death resulted. Trying to help a dog on heat in this way, gets him killed.
**Right Way:** First give performed ASAP (after you have put the dog in the shade if possible and there is time) to drink warm water, then cool the pads and chest / abdomen with a wet towel. Then put the dog in the shade (if he or she is not already there) that wet (hand) towel!