Like many other small-nosed dogs, bulldogs have trouble dealing with the heat in the summer. They cannot cool down, so they can develop respiratory problems and suffer from heat stroke.
However, while heat stroke is treatable in humans and is a minor ailment, in bulldogs it is much more serious. Bulldogs can actually die from heat stroke, so if you bought a bulldog from a reputable owner, you’ll want to make sure the dog is safe from the heat.
If you have chosen a good breeder, they will have experience with bulldogs and there is more information on heat stroke in the puppy pack. However, breeders are well within their rights to just mention food and tell you to do more research on the subject. They will believe that you are a more responsible owner if you do the research yourself.
Warning signs
Before you learn some prevention methods, you need to know the warning signs so that if you suspect your dog has heat stroke, you’ll know how to help him as soon as possible.
The first sign of heat stroke is with the sounds of breathing. You will notice a change in his breathing. You’ll go from relaxed breathing to heavy panting in a matter of seconds. At this point, you can make the dog cool off and he may not get such severe heat stroke.
The most serious symptoms are hyperventilation, reddening of the ears, fainting, staggering, and vomiting. If these symptoms are present, then your dog is in danger and should be taken to a veterinarian immediately.
You may also notice that your dog refuses to drink water or will not want to eat ice chips. This is because they need to focus on their breathing to try to cool down. This is also a more serious sign of heatstroke.
Prevention
As with any illness, prevention is much nicer than treatment, so you’ll need to learn how to prevent your dog from getting heat stroke. Read on for some helpful tips on how to prevent heat stroke.
Advice
- Walking – The first thing you should do in the summer months is to schedule your walks at certain times of the day. You could walk with them early in the morning and then in the evening. This is so that they are not exposed to the heat at the hottest times of the day, so they will exercise without risking heat stroke.
- Haircuts – If your dogs have thicker fur, you should cut it. Taking a dog out into the heat in a thick coat is essentially the same as going out in a huge winter coat and hoping he doesn’t overheat. So when the summer months approach, give them a short haircut and this should help them stay a bit cooler.
- Check his temperature – In a bulldog, the correct temperature is between 101-102 degrees. Anything above that can cause heat stroke, so you’ll have better control over your body temperature if you get into the habit of taking your temperature throughout the day.
- cars – You should NEVER leave your bulldog unattended in a car in the summer. This is very dangerous since the temperatures inside cars can reach very high levels, so leaving any dog inside a car in that heat is cruel to them and you will be risking their lives.
- Hose – If you think they are getting too hot, spray them with a hose. Make sure the water is cool and not too cold. Spraying their bellies and legs will bring their temperature down more effectively.