Miniature Bulldog Care: How To Identify And Treat Heatstroke In Your Dog
All dogs are susceptible to overheating because they don’t sweat. They rely on panting to cool their body, and some breeds do better than others because of their physiology. Short-nosed dogs, such as the miniature bulldog, tend to have the most trouble with overheating since they don’t move as much air when they pant due to their shortened and compact snout.
Heatstroke is a very serious condition that can kill your pet. For this reason, prevention is key. To keep your dog from becoming overheated, keep them indoors if the temperature rises above 80 degrees. Also, do not exercise or walk your dog when temperatures start to rise. Keep your dog in an air-conditioned space as much as possible to prevent overheating. You should also learn to recognize and treat the symptoms of heatstroke to keep your dog safe.
How to Recognize Heatstroke
Overheating is not difficult to recognize in short-nosed breeds. In addition to excessive panting, your dog may heave or make odd sounds while breathing. They may also produce foam from their mouth. In extreme cases, their tongue may change colors, and they may become lethargic and unresponsive.
If your dog exhibits signs of overheating, you must cool them off so they won’t go into heatstroke, which is easily diagnosed once your dog’s internal body temperature rises above 102 degrees.
How to Treat Heatstroke
At the first signs of overheating, you must take steps to cool your dog off. While you may be able to treat mild heat exhaustion on your own, it’s always a good idea to be on your way to your veterinarian while you’re treating your pet in order to give them the best chance at a quick recovery. However, you should never wait until you get to the veterinarian to begin trying to cool down your dog. Following are a couple of things you should do while in transport.
- Place cool wet towels on your dog. Some key areas to pay attention to are their armpits, neck and hind legs.
- Give your dog plenty of cool, not cold, drinking water. Keep in mind that extremely cold water and ice can put your dog into shock, so make the water temperature cool but not cold.
Short-nosed breeds, such as bulldogs, require extra care when temperatures start to rise. The best way to prevent overheating and heatstroke in your pet is to keep them indoors when it gets hot outside. If you notice any signs of overheating, take steps to protect and save your dog immediately.
