Summer Heat

I know it sounds nutty but Harley loved squirt bottles and it came in handy whenever we took her places. The water bottle of the bulldog! We just got used to filling one up with filtered water for her and Tankie. They loved the feeling of the spray on their tongue and it kept them hydrated all the time.

Summer is a wonderful time of year but it can be deadly to dogs with small tracheas. They need to be kept in a safe temperature so that their throats don't swell and cut off their ability to breathe. It's important not to let them sunbathe in the heat of the day. Early morning and twilight is okay to be out there laying on the deck but in the heat of the day it can kill them.

English and French Bulldogs are INDOOR dogs. They need 70 degree weather, (we call it San Diego weather), to be safe. If it's colder than that it might be too cold and they could get sick, catch a cold or chill and if it is warmer than that they can over heat and risk dying if their throat closes down. They need Air conditioning in the Summer and heat in the Winter

It's fun to take them places and to sporting events and such but please be careful not to expose them to heat during the daytime. It's just not worth the risk. If you know you're going to be outside for hours at a sporting event during the day please leave them home in the air conditioning. Heaving panting is a BAD thing!! When that happens wet their throat with water and get them cool at soon as possible!!!

Never EVER leave them unattended in a car. Not even for a quick trip inside the Mini Mart at the gas station. It's the same as leaving an infant in a car seat to do this. No one would even think to do that so it's the same for a dog.

Avoid hot surfaces! If you can't walk barefoot on it they can't either. No exercise in the heat of the day. Walks in the evening or early morning are okay but just short ones. When Harley was done walking she would plop down and not get up. More than once we had to go get the car to take her home. We learned her tolerance and planned our route accordingly.

Have fun together and be safe out there!!