Why Do English Bulldogs Overheat Easily?
English Bulldogs are pretty much different from other dogs for many reasons. They are susceptible to heat exhaustion. If you are an owner of an English Bulldog, you better watch your steps regarding your favorite pet in the summer. Because they do easily overheat in the summer season and this can lead to many severe things including heatstroke.
You need to know the reasons why do they overheat easily. As the English Bulldogs are a brachycephalic breed, they have a hard time cooling themselves and thus grow an overheating tendency. That’s why when you enjoy your summer with them pay extra attention to keep them cool.
Here I will present why do English Bulldogs overheat so easily and the ways to prevent overheating. Prevention is the key here. If you follow the steps on how to cool your English Bulldogs, you won’t face difficulties raising your pet.
Why do English Bulldogs overheat so easily?
English Bulldogs are different for their body structure. They are brachycephalic breeds. Brachycephalic means short-headed. The English Bulldogs are flat-faced. They have very short snouts that make them look flat-faced. Their soft pallet, noses are pulled in which creates obstruction in the respiratory organs.
Normally dogs can’t sweat instead they pant and regulate body temperature. Dogs with a longer muzzle can cool down by drawing in the air over the large surface area of the tongue. But for a short-nosed dog like English Bulldog, it is so difficult to do this effectively.
The extra work to move the air makes the airways swollen. That’s why sometimes they overheat so easily. So hot weather is a curse for the brachycephalic dogs like English Bulldogs. Overheating may cause heatstroke and eventually death.
Symptoms of overheating of an English Bulldog
When the dog suffers from overheating it shows some signs.
- Rise in temperature; when the dogs’ body temperature rises to 40.5C or above, it becomes overheated.
- Trouble while turning eyes to see a moveable object
- Not giving regular response to the commands
- Fatigue and lethargy; sometimes it faints or unconsciousness
- When it sneezes, the white part of eyes become red
- Dry and pale gums
Overheating can cause dysfunction in the internal organs. Overheating can leave room for bigger problems. So it is important to contact a vet.
How to cool down the overheated English Bulldog
Overheating will surely affect your English Bulldog, when it is overheated do these things.
- Record the temperature. If it’s above 40C then try to keep it 39.0 C-39.5 C.
- Take your English Bulldog to an air-conditioned area
- Take it to a shaded area
- Try to take it to a pool where there is cold running water
- Keep it under a fan or spray them cold water and make sure it contacts its coat
- Wet it very well
- Apply an ice pack to its neck and other areas
- Make sure to keep it hydrated
These are the things that can be done in a challenging situation.
How to Prevent Overheating
If you want to avoid overheating, you must prevent it. Their body temperature rises so easily and they take too much time to cool down. So you better keep precautions. There are some ways to prevent the overheating of your English Bulldogs.
✓ Don’t roam around outside unnecessarily
Hot weather irritates English Bulldogs. When it is summer season, you have to be careful when you are taking your dog outside. Early in the morning and in the evening is good for the dog. If possible night time would be better.
If you have to take him outside for something, don’t forget to take cold water. Keep it indoors as much as possible. English Bulldog with a history of overheating must not go outside. Overweight Bulldogs, seniors, 6-month-old puppies, and pregnant Bulldogs should not be exposed to direct sun.
✓ Manage to give your dog enough shades while outside
When you need to go outside, for example, the backyard, keep your Bulldog under a shaded area. Don’t leave it alone. They are easy-going and won’t disturb you if it feels uncomfortable. So always keep an eye on your English Bulldog. Don’t forget to take sunscreen, sunglasses, caps, etc. to prevent the sunlight.
✓ Exercise of your English Bulldog
Exercise is always good for English Bulldogs, they have lots of energy and they want to burn it. They won’t stop until they become exhausted. So monitor its daily activities. If it’s in its training period, then the training should be rescheduled.
“Take the training in the early morning or in the evening. Swimming can be a good option for training on the hot summer days.”
✓ Overheating in home
In the hot weather, overheating can also occur in the house. Or if you leave your dog confined in your home. It will be suffocating. They like to move around the house easily. Keep the door of your bathroom opened so that they can go and lie on the wet floor to keep themselves cool.
When the temperature rises, hand a wet towel and guide the fans airflow to it. If your home is not air-conditioned, make sure it passes enough air.
✓ Aware of the signs of overheating
Your Bulldog is short-nosed so it cannot pant easily as normal dogs. As a result, it overheats easily. I have already mentioned the signs of overheating earlier. So if you see any of those, immediately cool down your English Bulldog.
✓ Proper hydration
Always try to keep your English Bulldog hydrated. Make sure it gets an ample amount of supply of water throughout the day. Watch the water bowl so that you can refill it whenever it is empty.
- Add ice cubes sometimes when the weather is too hot.
- You can give it chicken broth or some pieces of fruit to the water to encourage it for drinking. Take a water bottle with you when you go for a walk with your pet. Wipe the dogs’ ears with a wet cloth.
- Head and paws can be washed with cold water.
- You can make your English Bulldog swim if it wants to. A small water pool would be great for it. You can spray or hose it with water.
✓ Keep an eye on weight
Obese Bulldogs are prone to overheat very easily. They dehydrate easily so control the weight of your English Bulldog. Fatty foods should not be given to your Bulldog; it will require much energy. Don’t overfeed your English Bulldog. Adults should receive one meal a day.
✓ Frozen foods
Besides cold water, give it some frozen foods. Frozen treats will be helpful. But don’t overfeed your Bulldog. You can give them frozen bananas, carrots, etc. chickens can also be given frozen to your English Bulldog.
✓ Don't leave your dog in the car
Well, we all know that. So be careful when you travel with your Bulldog, don’t keep it in the car, even in a shaded place. The cars’ temperature rises so easily. So don’t leave it alone. If you are on a journey, then after 2-3 hours stop the car to walk and drink water to your English Bulldog.
✓ Keep its body cool
Genitals, inner surface of ears, and noses are likely to burn more easily than other parts. Keep the areas wet repeatedly. Avoid going to the beach with your dog in the summer season.
Brush your dog frequently to get rid of fleas and ticks. Use flea repellents for it. Scratches can turn into infections and it takes a long time to heal in the hot weather.
✓ Cool summer gear
Buy dog booties for its paws, it will prevent its hot pavement. You can have cooling vests soaked in water then get rid of extra water. Fasten it around the dogs’ torso, it will create an evaporative cooling effect. Cooling collars are also popular. It allows water to slowly drip down the dogs’ chest that will give a natural evaporative effect.
Heatstroke in English Bulldogs
Heatstroke is very common among brachycephalic dogs. So the owner should have knowledge about heatstroke to protect their loved pets. Heatstroke can cause serious health problems and can be fatal.
Signs of Heatstroke
Symptoms of heatstroke may include a rise in body temperature. Take the temperature promptly. Rectal temperature should be taken. If it exceeds 40.5 C, then it will cause a heat stroke.
Excessive painting will happen. It will feel discomfort, not responding to regular commands. Excessive drooling. Contact a vet immediately if these signs are shown by your English Bulldog. There are some side effects from heatstroke that can happen.
They are; internal damage, brain swelling, kidney damage, etc.
What to do if your bulldog gets heat stroke?
Maybe your vet will take some time to reach the location but before that primary treatment should be given to your dog. If its temperature is too high, first try to cool it down. Some decisions taken at that time would affect your dog for a lifetime.
- Firstly, take your Bulldog to a shaded area. Take cold water and a towel. You can wrap the soaked towel around the dogs’ body. Keep soaking the towel again and again and wrap the dog. Take normal cool water, not hot or not so cold, and pour it on the Bulldogs’ heads. In this stage do not use cold water, because it will not be able to transport blood all over the body hence cooling down will take time.
- Secondly, when the Bulldog is soaked with water, keep a fan near it. record the body temperature by using a rectal thermometer for every five minutes.
- Thirdly, give it water to drink but don’t force. When the temperature is 39 C you will understand it starts to release temperature.
- Now, call your vet and discuss the next steps. If he thinks to see your dog, then call the clinic to prepare everything. It will be wise to check up on your dog and do some tests so that your vet can understand what condition it is in.
That is how you can take care of your Bulldog because it needs your utmost care.
What temperature is too hot for your Bulldog?
The temperature that is okay for other dogs may not be perfect for your English Bulldog. Around 85 F it will have a problem to breathe. If located under direct sunlight, it will feel a much higher temperature. If your dog has a history of repeated overheating then the level is 75-85 F. for easy calculation, if you sweat outside, keep your dog indoors.
Too much cold weather
Too much cold weather is also harmful to the English Bulldog. Don’t let them play while it’s snowing. Keep them warm and make them wear dog coats. The favorable temperature for dogs is 60- 70 F. Temperature under 50 F is pretty much uncomfortable.
Threats you will face in hot weather
They can get sunburned like humans, especially in their eyes and ears. They would like to scratch the itchy areas. It will lead to infection because they have sharp nails. Apply some dog-safe sunscreen to its noses and paws. Also, keep an eye for allergies, they get pollen allergies too fast.
FAQ’s
>> What to do when your English Bulldog wants to play outside?
Bulldogs are very loveable, friendly animals. They want to play outside with others. They like to exercise and the outdoors is a place for that. But its body structure does not allow it to play outside so keep it indoors. Give them chewy toys and take them for a walk when the sun is about to go down.
>> Why do English Bulldogs like sunbathing?
Hot weather is not good for them but they have an affinity to bask under the sun. They love the warmth. But too much exposure is harmful. So after a few moments take him indoors. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen and make it wear a shade.
Final words
English Bulldogs are a good choice for you if you live in a place where the weather is not too hot. They are loved by many pet lovers because they are obedient, devoted, and loyal companions. But when you are an English Bulldog owner, please be careful with hot weather.
Great post.