Boston Terrier and Heat Stroke

Along with pug and shih tzu, the boston terrier is considered as brachycephalic dog - dog with short snout, tiny nostrils, long palates and narrow trachea. This made them sensitive to excessive heat as well as extremely cold weather. So if you happen to own a boston terrier, the fact is clear that they are more likely to suffer from weather-related problems such as heat stroke.

Since dogs don't have the ability to speak and talk to you when they are sick, knowing the signs and symptoms of a specific problem can help you determine if there is something wrong with Fido. A dog's temperature is normally between 101 and 102 degrees Fahrenheit. A rise of three degrees and above is dangerous to your dog. Early signs of dehydration include heavy panting, hyperventilation or deep breathing and increased salivation and dry gums later on. As the condition progresses towards heat stroke, paleness, weakness, vomiting and diarrhea may also occur along with shallowing of the breathing efforts, slowed or absent breathing efforts and worst, seizures or coma.

Knowing these signs is very important because this condition can cause permanent damage to your dog if left without intervention. To treat heat stroke, here are some steps to be taken immediately:

- Transfer your dog to a cool place such as an air conditioned room or a shady place.
- Wet or immerse the dog in cool water or place in front of a fan
- Allow the dog to have small drinks of water every few minutes

If the symptoms persist, take your dog to the veterinarian as soon as possible. Heat stroke can be extremely dangerous if you cannot cool down your dog's temperature within 20 minutes.

Luckily, there are various ways you can do to prevent heat stroke.

- Provide easy access to fresh water everyday
- Wet a dog before doing physical activities or before going out into a hot day
- Keep crates out of direct sunlight

In order to remain on the safe side, it is always recommended not to let a boston terrier out into a hot day. Physical activities or exercise should be set aside for later or must be done in a less hot location.