Hi Everyone!

Well, the calendar says it is getting closer to summertime, even if the weather doesn't agree yet...

As the temperatures raise so does the risk for injury and even death to dogs, related to heat. The best way to deal with canine heat stroke is to prevent it. Here are some areas to take extra precautions. Short muzzles, dark coated, long haired, very young, very old and overweight dogs are of greatest risk. That means your FRENCH BULLDOG!

Parked cars: We all know that leaving a dog in a car for just a few moments can lead to tragic results.

In only 30 minutes, a car's interior temperature can rise to 120 degrees when the temperature outside is only 72 degrees even if the windows are open 1-2 inches according to a Stanford study. Parking in the shade will not protect your dog; a parking spot that is shady may be in full sun a minute later. Leaving water in the car for your dog is a good idea but there is always a risk your dog steps on the bowl and spills it. If you ever see a dog in a parked car on a hot day, PLEASE call 911 immediately! Most times where a dog has died of Heat-stroke in a car, is when the owner "forgot" that the dog was along. The owner will take the dog along in the car for some quick errands and the dog falls asleep and the owner decided to make a stop somewhere and forgets that the dog is along.

I will often on hot days walk through a parking lot when I park. I have had owners paged in the store on more times than I care to remember. When they come running out they usually forgot completely that their dog was in the car.

Last summer on one of the day's it was over 90F, I found dogs in cars at Sam's club, Lowe's and Target and everyone was thrilled that someone found their dog panting and called for help instead of them coming back to the car and finding a lot worse!

Exercising: As always, exercise is very important to the well being of a dog (people too!) both physically and mentally. But during the summer months especially take extra care when doing so. Save the walks for early morning and evenings (avoid it between 11am-3pm). Hot black pavement can hurt their paws and also cause their temperature to rise due to being close to the ground. Try to walk in the woods and on grass for a cooler more comfortable walk. Also placing a frozen bandana around your dog's neck will keep your dog both staying cool and looking cool! You can make one by simply wetting a bandana in water and rolling it up and placing it in the freezer until frozen then tying it around your dog's neck. Always carry a water bottle along for both of you, there are lots of different portable water bowls available at pet supply stores.

Play: Some dogs slow down and rest when they are tired from playing in the yard or park and some don't. These are usually the working breeds of dogs, but you know if your dog can play for hours and hours. Most French bulldogs don't and need more than just shade and water they need the comfort of air conditioning. So you may have to supervise the amount of play time and make your dog rest if necessary to prevent overheating. Last summer a read about a French bulldog dying of heat stroke while they were with the family at a soccer game. They can't handle hours of outside heat! Purchasing a childs wading pool may be of great enjoyment for your dog and also serves as an extra reservoir of water if necessary. A fun treat to make is simply done by taking a plastic bucket and putting treats in it and filling it up with water and then freezing it, plop the frozen ice with treats frozen in it down on the ground and let your dog get busy trying to get the treats out of the ice, all while cooling off.

Sunscreen: If your dog is short hair, or hairless and or likes to flop onto his back and soak, in the summer sun (we all know that Frenchies do this!) they can get sunburned. Apply thoroughly an unscented sunscreen that is of 30 SPF or higher onto the skin.

Digging: In the heat some dogs dig to stay cool. You can teach your dog to dig in a specific area by encouraging digging there by burying treats and toys in that area.

Signs of Heat Stroke: Because dogs dissipate heat from their bodies inefficiently (compared to humans sweating) by panting, they can't tolerate conditions we can. Panting allows the dog to move large amounts of heated air from their body to the outside. High heat means that the dog has to pant faster and faster to cool down their body, the faster they pant in heat, the more heat does their body take on, and they overheat quickly. Because of their snubbed noses French bulldogs are more prone to heat stroke. Signs of heat stroke are rapid breathing and heart rate, drooling, their eye's look panicked, weakness, bluish or bright red (compared to the normal pink color) colored tongue and gums.

Cool Down: Take the dog to a shaded, cooler area put some water on the body to cool off, use a garden hose and offer some water (not too much at once or too cold to prevent vomiting which will put the body under more stress), some suggestions also say to place an ice pack on the base of the skull to prevent brain damage. Immediately rush to the closest Veterinary Hospital.

Your dog depends on you for their safety, they just want to have fun, so keep them safe and out of harms way and heat stroke.

Have a FUN & SAFE summer!

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