As the weather starts to get nicer, you probably find yourself eager to spend as much time outside with your Bulldog as possible. While giving your Bulldog his daily walk is incredibly important, you need to exercise an extra degree of caution during the summer months. Bulldogs and heat simply don’t mix – keep reading to find out why.

Why Is Heat Dangerous for Bulldogs?

One of the characteristics that makes Bulldogs so unique is their short faces and wrinkled bodies. Unfortunately, this cute little feature can actually cause your Bulldog some serious health problems.

Dog breeds with shortened faces often suffer from what is known as brachycephalic syndrome – a group of conditions or abnormalities that can cause breathing difficulties. These breathing difficulties are often exacerbated by exertion and by heat – this is why heat is so dangerous for Bulldogs. The hotter it gets, the more your Bulldog pants to try and cool himself down. Due to his short-faced anatomy, however, he may not be able to take in air as quickly as he needs to and that can quickly lead to problems like heat exhaustion.

What Can You Do to Protect Your Bulldog?

Sometimes doing what’s best for your Bulldog means saying no. No to an extra half hour at the dog park. No to another around of fetch in the backyard. Your Bulldog lives to please you and he wants to spend as much time with you as he can. It is your job, however, to do what is best for your dog even if he doesn’t know what that is. When it comes to heat stroke, things can happen very quickly – an extra five minutes in the heat could turn a potentially dangerous situation into a fatal one in the blink of an eye.

To keep your dog protected from heat stroke, the most important thing you need to do is learn what signs to look for. A little bit of panting is normal for a dog – that is how they cool themselves off – but if his panting becomes very heavy or if he starts to heave, it is a sign that something is wrong. If your Bulldog starts to look very tired or distressed, take him inside immediately so he can cool off. Other signs of heat exhaustion may include a very floppy tongue (or one that is very red or purple in color), increase in body temperature, foamy saliva, and sudden collapse.

If you think that your Bulldog is getting overheated, the first thing you need to do is lower his body temperature – be careful, though, because you don’t want to lower it too quickly. Try soaking a towel in cool water and drape it over his back or have him stand in a bathtub filled with a few inches of cold water. Do whatever you can to keep your dog calm – if he panics it will only make it more difficult for him to breathe.

Don’t let your Bulldog drink too much water because it could cause him to vomit. If his airway is restricted, try squirting a little bit of lemon juice into the back of his throat – this will help get rid of the foam and open the airway.

As soon as your Bulldog starts to calm down and breathe normally once again you should take him to the vet for a checkup. Even if he looks fine, it is possible that he suffered some internal damage due to lack of oxygen. It pays to be overly cautious in situations like this – the last thing you want is for your dog to die from something that could have been prevented.

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