Brachycephalic Dogs and Heat

Editor's Note: I just got a brand new baby yesterday. She is an adorable peke-a-poo and I am totally in love. I have had both shih tzus and pekingese dogs in the past and am aware of the dangers of dogs with "smushed" noses, for lack of a better term. Among these are pugs, boston terriers, pekingese, shih tzus, havanese and others. Here is how to prevent them from encountering any problems...

Brachycephalic dogs (dogs with short noses) such as the pug, bulldog, and Pekingese, are particularly susceptible to high temperatures and heatstroke. Dogs do not perspire through the skin like people do; instead the cool themselves by panting. Short-muzzled dogs have narrowed and abbreviated respiratory tracts. They have a hard time increasing their rate of panting, so they are more likely than other dogs to suffer from respiratory distress in hot weather. While care should be taken with all dogs during hot weather, brachycephalic dogs need extra consideration and should always be kept in a cool location, preferably in an air-conditioned house, during the hottest part of the day. In warm weather they should not be exercised during the day and plenty of water should always be available. They (and all other dogs) should never be left in a hot car, not even for a few minutes.