The English Bulldog Puppy Blog

English bulldogs fall under the category of bradycephalic breed. As such breed requires careful management, know how to control or better yet avoid placing your dear English bulldog at risk form heatstroke.

All short-nosed breeds (a.k.a. bradycephalic breeds) like bulldogs and pugs must be carefully managed in extremely hot weather. Most novice pet owners generally are surprised how fast an English bulldog submits to heatstroke.

Contrary to what most people believe, dogs are more vulnerable to heatstroke than man. Dogs overheat more quickly despite of their fur coat worn all year long. Dogs do not sweat off the heat. They cool down either by panting or blowing out heat. This mechanism renders less effective than sweating.

What heat stroke does to your dog’s body?
Heat stroke occurs when heat gain goes beyond the body’s capacity to dissipate heat. High temperatures cause chemical reactions that breakdown body cells resulting to dehydration and blood thickening. These results place enormous strain on the heart causing blood clots and eventual tissue necrosis or death of the tissue. Heat stroke quickly affects the liver, brain, and intestinal cells. The normal body of a dog is about 101 F to 102 F. Thus, if its temperature goes beyond 106 F, it is in danger of brain damage, vital organ failure and death. The temperature of 106 F can be extremely dangerous. A dog can recover from heat stroke but has to deal with organ damage and lifelong health problems.

Signs and symptoms of heat stroke
• Rapid, frantic panting
• Wide eyes
• Thick saliva
• Bright red tongue
• Vomiting
• Staggering
• Diarrhea
• Coma

First aid
Never underestimate heat stroke. Heat stroke is deadly! When your dog suffers from heat stroke, cool your dog in any way you can. Send your dog to a vet for immediate medical intervention. Hose your dog off, immerse it in cool (not in cold water), use fans, take your dog to air conditioning. Sponge the groin area, tummy area, wet its tongue, place rolled up wet towels against its head, neck, tummy, and between its legs. Always check its temperature. Stop cooling your dog once it drops to 104 F or 103 F.

Treatment
If your dog’s temperature remains high by the time you brought it to the vet’s clinic, they may give him a cool water enema, cool water gastric lavage to rinse the stomach, and intravenous (IV) fluids, and draw blood samples. Your dog will be monitored for shock, kidney failure, heart abnormalities, respiratory stress, and blood clotting time. Your vet should give oxygen, dextrose, cortisone, antihistamines, anticoagulants, or antibiotics to stabilize your dog. It is necessary to give follow up treatment after your dog is stabilized.

Prevention of heat stroke

• Do not ever leave your dog (or English bulldog) in a parked car even for a few minutes! A parked car traps heat in a matter of minutes that could be as high as 40 degrees above the outdoor temperature. Let’s say the temperature is 80 F, a parked car can reach 120 F in ten minutes especially on a sunny day. It is not a big help to leave the car windows crack a little open.

• If you have to let your dog stay outdoors, provide shade, ventilation, wading pool, and cool drinking water. Remember that the shade moves as the earth rotates.
• Store enough water in containers large enough to supply water all the time. Secure the water containers so they won’t topple over and spill.
• Make sure that dogs on a leash wouldn’t wind their leash around an object that prevents access to water.
• Clip heavy coated dogs to an inch in length. Leave one inch for heat insulation and protection against sunburn.
• Let your dog get accustom to warm weather and several days to acclimate.
• Don’t exercise your bulldog on hot days.

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