Brachycephalic or flat-faced dog breeds have more difficulty taking in enough air to cool themselves down by panting. Flat-faced dogs such as pugs, Boston terriers, French bulldogs, English bulldogs and shih tzus are more sensitive to heat because they suffer from brachycephalic airway syndrome (BAS).
The researchers again noted that smaller dog breeds, such as the Yorkshire terrier, tended to be warmer than dogs from larger breeds, like the Great Dane.
Worst among the breeds are brachycephalics, or brachys: Any dog with a flat, wide skull and a short nose—think Boston terriers, Pekingese, Shi Tzus, Pugs, and Bulldogs—will be more prone to heatstroke.
Our four-legged friends don't handle the heat like we do. Unlike us, dogs don't sweat out excess body heat. Though dogs typically release heat by panting, this may not always be enough to cool down. As a result, your beloved pooch can quickly become overheated, if not acclimated.
Keep fresh cool water available at all times. Certain types of dogs are more sensitive to heat – especially obese dogs and brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds, like pugs and bulldogs. Use extreme caution when these dogs are exposed to heat even with a short walk to the shops or sitting at a cafe.
While it depends on your specific animal and their breed, generally with lots of water, circulation of air, and shade, most pets will be fine in temperatures up to 90 degrees. But please remember there are no hard and fast rules here. Dogs don't sweat. They cool off by panting.
Second, Henry was a black dog: dark coloured dogs are especially vulnerable to overheating on sunny days: their dark coat absorbs sunlight, in contrast with white dogs whose coats reflect the sun's rays. The dark coat means that black dogs are far more likely to suffer from heat stroke than light coloured dogs.
The dog's own body temperature increases the heat and moisture (especially for larger breeds), the oxygen is used up, and death can occur within 15 minutes. Acclimate your dog to hot weather gradually and don't exercise him on hot, humid days.
Unlike humans, dogs have a higher body temperature and less ability to cool down. This is because they have fewer sweat glands that are only confined to the nose and foot pads. A dog that is overheating can only regulate body temperature through panting which is highly inefficient during hot weather.
Like most dog breeds, Labradors struggle to cope in the summer. The ideal temperature for a Labrador is below 90 degrees Fahrenheit and less than 20-30% humidity. Keep them hydrated and watch for any signs of heatstroke.
Unlike humans, dogs can't sweat through their skin and so they rely on panting and releasing heat through their paw pads and nose to regulate their body temperature and keep cool.
Change is constant. Within that range, smaller dogs tend to have a higher body temperature than larger dogs, according to one study, and it's believed that also is tied to metabolism (smaller beings have a faster metabolism). What's more, within each individual dog, body temperature can fluctuate.
If you can't hold the back of your hand to the pavement outside for more than a few seconds, it's too hot for your pet. On hot, humid days, you should bring your pet inside if the indoor environment is cooler (for example, if you have air conditioning).
If you're near a body of fresh water, such as a lake or a baby pool, let your dog take a dip to cool down. Otherwise, you can use cool, wet cloths or towels to help him out. Place your cool wet cloths on his neck, armpits, and between his hind legs, and you can also gently wet his ears and paw pads with cool water.
Because dogs primarily pant rather than sweat, they are much more sensitive to heat than humans are. Luckily, heat exhaustion is easily preventable—even in the dog days of summer.
A quick way to check if the ground is too hot for your dog is to place your hand on it for 3 - 5 seconds. If it's too hot to keep your hand comfortably on the pavement, it's too hot for your pet to be walking on it.
Wet, cool towels
Wet your dog's coat or drench a towel in cool, but not really cold, water and drape it over your dog. This will really help in lowering body temperature and is a crucial step in cooling down a dog suffering from heatstroke before getting them to the vets.
Turn off fans, lights and electronics
Fans cool humans by evaporating the sweat on our skin. But because dogs don't sweat, the air flow from a fan isn't going to make much of a difference for them in the summer. So, leave the fan off to save money and energy. Turn off the lights.
If your dog has very long fur, it is like wearing a fur coat in 95-degree weather; therefore it is imperative that you keep his coat clear of mats and debree and combed frequently to keep it thin and comfortable for him. Longhaired dogs can quickly overheat in high temperatures.
In fact, cutting or shaving your pet's fur can actually compromise your furry friend's ability to remain cool. Although wearing a fur coat in the summer might increase your risk of heat stroke, the same isn't true for your pets. Their coats actually provide a built-in heating and cooling system.
While small pups can spend a few hours outdoors in temperatures between 60ºF and 90ºF, keep outings in temperatures below 32ºF and above 90ºF to short spans of no more than 10 to 15 minutes, recommends Dr. Wooten.
Any dog can develop heatstroke, but flat-faced, overweight, giant-breed, thick-coated, very old and very young dogs are most at risk.
In many cases, dogs die within 24 hours of experiencing heatstroke. Dr. Grimmett notes that many dogs who survive heatstroke don't have any long-term effects. However, if your dog's body temperature was too high for a long period of time, they may live with permanent brain, kidney, or other organ damage.
Put your dog in the bathtub. Run a cool (not cold) shower over your pet, covering the whole body — especially the back of the head and neck. Allow the water to fill up the bathtub as you shower the dog. Keep the head elevated to prevent aspiration pneumonia.