Heat stress is a major cause of production losses in the dairy industry with some estimates indicating that it could be costing dairy producers globally into the billions of dollars. In commercial operations, prevention of physiological responses to heat stress is far more effective than mitigation post exposure. Because these responses are a result of a confluence of factors, the approach to mitigation is often complex in nature. Dietary adjustments can play an important role in heat stress management. Their primary role is to first prevent, delay or minimize intake reduction and second to compensate for higher nutrient needs during these periods of high demands (e.g., mineral losses, oxidative stress). Lastly, maintaining intestinal health during high THI periods can also play an important role in prevention or delaying of heat stress related production losses. Therefore, nutritional adjustments can be utilized strategically during these periods to reduce the impact of heat stress. Supplementation with feed additives that target affected system could offer beneficial returns on investments for dairymen and nutritionist. The following review will attempt to discuss the field tools utilized by dairy producers and their nutritionist to cope with the complex responses associated with heat stress. We will discuss the link between management tools and nutrition and explore feed additives and their potential roles in heat stress management at the farm. Lastly, we will discuss the limitation of some heat stress experimental models and discuss why some field research observations could be beneficial in the interpretation of effectiveness intervention strategies.