Bulldog Overheating
Summer is around the corner, and being based in Dallas, TX, we here at Bullymake are very aware of what heat can do to your Bulldog. Bulldogs and heat do not mix. And in a state where the temperature can rise upwards of 100 degrees with no problem, it is critical to know the signs of an overheating Bulldog, and what to do about it.
But even if you don’t live in Texas, it is recommended by many veterinarians to keep Bulldogs indoors when it is 85 degrees or hotter outside. Bulldogs have a tendency to overheat easily, as do many brachycephalic breeds. They are not efficient panters, and therefore are not able to cool as easily as other breeds.
First, let’s look over the signs of an overheating Bulldog:
- Excessive panting
- Heaving while panting
- Odd sounds coming from the throat
- Very floppy, loose, discolored tongue
- Possible foaming from the mouth
- Exhaustion from the fight for breath
If you see any of these signs, your Bulldog is likely to be overheating.
This can be a scary situation for any Bulldog owner, as death can occur if not taken care of promptly.
Here are 5 tips to keep your Bulldog cool:
1. Never leave your dog unattended in days of hot weather or while they are in the car. If you do so, it is very possible that they will overheat which could result in death. Also, don’t leave your Bully unattended if you have a pool on a hot day as they could be tempted to jump in. Simply put – keep an eye on your fur-baby when it’s hot.
2. Bulldogs need a cool place to stay and sleep in your home during the summer. Make sure they are always in an air-conditioned and well ventilated room of your house. Tile can help them cool down when it is hot outside.
3. If you see that your Bully is overheating, it is time to cool him off. Remove him from the hot area immediately. Place your bully in some cool water, and pour cool water over his head. If you cannot place him in a tub-like area, hose him down with a low pressure spray. Ensure water reaches and soaks his paws. Make sure he has plenty of cold water to drink.
4. If your Bully is overheated, place your dog by a fan. Use your fingers to spread his fur to open up his coat to help air flow through to his body. Do this after you have put him in the tub/poured cool water on him. Fur acts as an insulator to cold weather so by spreading his/her fur open you are helping to reduce this insulation!
5. Let your Bully see for him/herself how hot it is outside. If your pup is anxious to go on a walk or wants to go outside badly, sometimes it is best for him/her to feel for themselves how hot it is! It’s safe to say your Bully won’t want to be outside for too long when it is scorching outside.
If your Bulldog is overheating on a regular basis, we fully recommend going to see a veterinarian to see if there are any underlying issues.
Comment below now and tell us about any experiences you may have had with Bulldogs in the heat!
23 Comments
My bulldog loves to lay on the deck right in the sun. I let her for a little while then bring her in. She will lay there and try to hide her panting. But I know it has been to long! When she comes in I give her Gatorade ice cubes and she lays on the ceramic tiles under the ceiling fan in the kitchen! It works every time
Nicola , Thanks for your tips.
I've almost lost my dog to heat three times. Each time I gave her something different. Once I fed her ice cream, another I gave her coke, and the worst time I put her in the bathtub and fed her frozen French fries. Each time it's been really scary.
have you never heard of cold water?
Lol....
You are a horrible dog owner. You gave your dog ice cream?...a friggin coke?....frozen french fries....you're a complete idiot.
I must be an idiot too! We feed our bully a scoop of vanilla icecream once a month and french fries and nilla wafers after a bath. Im probably going to dog hell. Coke may be extreme but to call someone an idiot over this?
I agree!
How about you treat it like a baby.... smart no? Pedialyte instead of coke?! Yeah I think so.. who gives a dog coke.... wth. Poor thing.. no wonder why it suffers
I know right, and you wonder how dogs end up at the vet. Ok Valeria, dont give your dog coke. Look on the internet their are lists of what and what not to give. If you wouldnt give it to your toddler dont give it to your dog and then some.
Geesh, I cant believe some people that really peeves me.
Why in the heck would you give a dog coke?!?!? That one's a no brainer, there!
Believe it or not flat coke is given to kids with stomach bugs in the past 10 - 15 yrs., something in it that helps, lemonade was never any good that we now know. I don't know about overheated dogs though, I'd stick to cool water and ice blocks
Gravy ice cubes are a good one.
You can also put a cold wet t-shirt on your bully to help cool them down.
I also use a paddling pool that I keep in the garden and fill with cold water, I throw his favourite toys and bones in and he goes in after, ducking his head in to retrieve. It works well to cool him.
The Bulldog is known as a muscular and hefty dog featuring a short, flat, and sleek coat which generally comes in red, fawn, white, brindle or piebald colours. Thanks for the great tips to cool Bulldog
Mix beef broth and water into a ice tray dish and freeze for a nice beefy frozen snack
If I was in an emergency and all I had was coke, you better believe I would give it before wasting too much time to find an alternative.
waooo these are a great piece of tips. I have a french bulldog and today onwards i am going to follow all your tips.
My bulldog jumps in the paddling pool the only trouble is she will stand in it for ages is this ok.
Just curious but how did bulldogs survive for hundreds of years without being indoors with air conditioning?
if i am correct- the breathing issues have only been this bad due overbreeding/ poor breeding causing the noses to come in more (because it’s “cuter”) making it harder for them to breed. while their faces were still pushed in years ago it wasn’t this pushed in so it wasn’t as bad for them.
We have an English bulldog and live in the high dessert. Temperatures reach over 100 degrees. We been getting him adjusted by leaving him outside and bringing him in when it's gets around 100 degrees. Also he's in great shape my boys run him every other day in the heat 30 to 40 feet jogs rest and go again about 3 to 4 times because of age and hips . I believe it's all about the condition of the dog not about how hot it gets. Don't get it twisted some temperatures are too hot for dog or humans. My bully is now around 11 years and he does well in the heat. Good diet exercise and your bully will live a long time.
What about Bulldog mixes?? As this is common sense and applies to all dog breeds. Are mixed any less prone to this?
Leave A Comment