Take extra care of your flat-faced dog in the heat

We heard today of a bulldog out on his daily walk yesterday, who keeled over from heat stroke and was unable to be resuscitated. The owner is understandably beside herself with grief and guilt, never having suspected that the dog was at a higher risk of heat-related complications because of his sweet, flat face. Our condolences to her, and an urgent call out to any of you with flat-faced pets to be especially vigilant about your pet’s comfort and wellbeing when the temperatures soar.

Flat faced, or brachycephalic, dogs and cats are more susceptible to the heat and humidity because their unique anatomy is inefficient in general and their airways are also more likely to become inflamed and swollen in stressful conditions, further restricting airflow and making it even harder to breathe. According to this article on the subject, “the flat face design [also] encourages saliva to evaporate from the tongue more quickly than it otherwise would. This impedes the cooling effect the tongue has on the blood circulating through the tongue. This in turn makes the body cooling process far less efficient than in other breeds.”

Dogs really rely on being able to pant, to regulate their body temperatures and if you have a breed that is more likely to suffer in the heat because of their flat face, please be extra observant of their behavior and breathing.

Some common sense summer precautions include:

• Know any potential issues your pet’s breed might have – now you know your flat-faced pets are less tolerant of heat and humidity, you can take extra steps to keep them safe and comfortable when the mercury rises.
• If you have air conditioning, leave Fido inside when it’s seriously hot (with the A/C on, of course!)
• Don’t take your dog for a walk in the middle of the day – instead, take them out in the the cool morning or in the evening. And don’t walk them on the hot pavement (you try it, barefoot with the only part of your body that can sweat, on hot asphalt or concrete!) – make sure they have some grass or shady areas to walk on.
• Always provide plenty of cool fresh water and, if your dog stays outside, make sure they have someplace shady throughout the day so they can escape the sun.
• NEVER, NEVER, NEVER leave your dog in a car on a warm or hot day! Temperatures inside a car can easily rise to 120 degrees Fahrenheit under the summer sun. Even if the outside temperature is only 70 degrees, the inside of a car can cause heat stress and even heatstroke.
• If you take your dog with you, don’t leave them sitting outside in the sun or without water while you’re browsing around in the air conditioned comfort of the shops or library. You’d be better off leaving them at home where they can go seek out some shade, or grab a drink from their bowl.

What to do if your dog is overheating? Some danger signs are:

• Unusually sluggish or unresponsive
• Pale or dark red gums, may be very dry
• Erratic breathing
• Glazed eyes
• Vomiting
• In the final stages the dog will suffer convulsions and unconsciousness

If you observe any of these symptoms it is imperative that you take action immediately!

• Get your dog into the shade and apply cold water or hose gently with a continuous stream of cool water.
• Submerge in a tub of cool water if possible.
• If possible apply ice packs or cold towels.
• If your dog is conscious allow him to drink small amounts of water or lick ice cubes. Do not force him to drink.
• Get veterinary attention immediately. You may save his life!

Great references for more information:

• Article by The Bulldog Club of Greater San Diego: Heat is a (Bull)dog’s #1 enemy!
• Brachycephalic Dogs (Flat Faced Dogs) And Summer Safety Tips
• Article on heat exhaustion in pets

Please pass this information on to friends and family with pets, particularly if they have a flat-faced breed – you might just save their life! Stay cool… :-)