It is hotter than heck in Houston already, and I just had my first dog die from heatstroke. He was left in the backyard and succumbed to effects of the high temperatures and humidity. By the time he was discovered that he was in trouble, he was scooped up and brought immediately to our hospital. Unfortunately, he died before we could even start treatment. His body temperature still registered 108 degrees on the thermometer.
Why are dogs so vulnerable to the effects of heat?
They can’t sweat. The only way they can cool themselves is with panting and the evaporative cooling of the moisture off their tongues. If the humidity or the temperature is too high, they cannot cool their core temperature enough to sustain themselves. This is especially more evident in dogs with short faces, such as bulldogs, Shi Tzus, boxers and other dogs.
If you have a smaller dog, consider a dog stroller.
