With summer underway, a group of UK dog welfare experts are urging owners of flat-faced dog breeds to take extra care in protecting these animals in hot weather.

Low capacity of this type of dog to keep calm by gasping for breath from their abnormally flat faces, that means who are at high risk of heat stroke when the temperature is very high.

A survey by the British Veterinary Association (BVA) showed that more than half of the veterinarians surveyed had treated brachycephalic dogs for heat stroke in the past year.

In another survey, after last year’s record-breaking heat wave, many veterinarians reported being very concerned about the impact of hot weather on dogs with this type of physiognomy, leading some professionals to worry that frequent owner didn’t recognize the signs visible or audible heat and stress on their dogs.

TIPS FOR PROTECTING THE BIRA BRANCHISEPHAL FROM HEAT

He The Brachycephalic Working Group (BWG)), a national group of leading British dog health and welfare organizations and veterinarians, issued a series of directed suggestions exclusively for owners of this breed, to help protect these dogs from the highest temperatures and summer sun.

First of all, they comment that it is important helps them stay cool in hot weather. Experts explain that “dogs don’t sweat like humans do; instead, their main way of cooling off is by panting. The limited respiratory capacity in some dogs with this characteristic means they often struggle to cool down and pant which is ineffective at these dogs only further exacerbate their breathing difficulties.

They also show that encourage the dog to stay in the shadethus avoiding effort and them staying inside during the hottest hours.

Also, remember that never leave a dog in the carand less if they belong to this type of breed, “where they can quickly overheat even on relatively cool or cloudy days.”

On the other hand, they show importance planning walksbecause “it is very important to avoid always walking in the hottest hours of the day to go outside with your dog. Therefore, it is better to do it at such times dawn and dusk. If this is not possible, it is better to skip the walk than risk the dog being outside – a dog can get heat stroke in as little as 15 minutes in heat.”

“Keep the dog cool and drink all day it is one of the most important things. Make sure your dog stays well hydrated by placing bowls of cool water around the house. And for colder drinks, you can add ice cubes,” added the experts.

Besides that, warn that the owner must be aware of changes in the dogsuch as breathing more heavily than usual, reduced energy, playing less than usual, panting more, tripping, or lying down.

In this sense, experts comment that “You should be able to detect signs of heat stroke and knowing when to act can save your pet’s life.” Signs can range from excessive panting, confusion, bright red gums, foaming at the mouth, vomiting, diarrhea, collapse, or even seizures.

If the dog shows any of the above signs, “it matters the owner cooled down the dog as quickly as possible. Move it to a cool place, pour cold tap water on it and offer some water to drink,” they suggest.

GO TO THE VET

If these tips don’t work, you should try them contact the vet as soon as possible. Remember to always refrigerate first and transport later when taking your dog to the vet for heat stroke.

“Comfortable and Being able to perform first aid for a pet before going to the vet can be vital for pets in an emergency, especially in cases of heat stroke”.

SMALL BRACHYCEPHAL

Due to the flat skull shape, flat-faced (brachycephalic) dogs do not naturally have longer noses, which helps other breeds lose heat when panting, so flat-faced breeds often struggle more than other dog breeds to lose heat effectively.

This problem is exacerbated in hot weather and especially if the dog is exercising. Experts stress that owners of the flat-faced breed should be extra vigilant in the summer months, when the weather tends to be hotter than usual. “Hot weather can be fatal for all dog breedsso it is important that all owners are aware of the serious hazard,” they added.