Dehydrated mammals conserve body water by reducing thermoregulatory evaporative cooling responses e.g. panting, sweating. Increased core temperature (Tc) may result. Following rehydration and correction of fluid deficits, panting and sweating commence. We investigated the role of oropharyngeal/oesophageal, post-absorptive and thermal signals in the panting response and reduced Tc that occurs when unshorn sheep drink water following water deprivation for 2 days (ambient temperature 20°C). Ingestion of water (at body temperature) resulted in increased respiratory rate (panting) and reduced Tc within 4 min that persisted for at least 90 min. Initially, a similar panting response and reduced Tc occurred following rehydration by drinking isotonic saline solution, but panting was not sustained after 20 min and Tc began to rise again. Rehydration by intraruminal administration of water, without any drinking, resulted in delayed panting and fall in Tc. Intraruminal infusion of saline was inneffective. Rehydration by drinking cool water (20°C) resulted in a rapid fall in Tc without increased panting. Shorn sheep had lower basal Tc that did not increase during 2 days of water deprivation, and they did not pant on rehydration by drinking water. Our results indicate that signals from the oropharyngeal and/or oesophageal region associated with the act of drinking play a crucial role in the initial 30-40 min of the panting response to rehydration. Post-absorptive factors, most likely reduced plasma tonicity, cause continued panting and further reduction in Tc. Tc also influences rehydration-induced panting. It occurs only if sheep incur a heat load during bodily dehydration.