All About Bichon Frise Dogs

  • HOME
  • Puppies
    • Bichon Frise Puppies
      • Selecting a Dog
      • Choosing a Breed
      • Adoptions
      • New Puppy
      • New Puppy Checklist
      • Crying at Night
      • Puppy Food Bowls
    • Puppy Care
      • Puppy Diet
      • Feeding Schedule
      • Teething
      • Puppy Vomiting
      • Puppy Worms
      • Neutering
      • Distemper
      • Vaccinations
    • Puppy Training
      • House Training
        • Crate Training a Puppy
        • Metal Dog Crates
        • Paper Training
      • Leash Training
      • Puppy Grooming
      • Socialization
      • Sit Command
      • Puppy Training Games
      • Stop Puppy Biting
      • Poop Eating
  • Adults
    • Holistic Dog Care
      • Healthy Diet
        • Best Quality Food
        • Gourmet Dog Treats
        • BARF Diet
    • Pregnancy
    • Dog Fun
      • Kong Dog Toys
      • Indestructible Dog Toys
      • Stuffed Dog Toys
      • Birthday Party
      • Halloween Party
      • Bichon Buzz
  • Seniors
    • Dog Age?
    • Aging Dogs
      • Dementia
      • Separation Anxiety
      • Hearing Loss
      • Blindness
        • Blind Dog Accessories
        • Blind Dog Care
        • Cataracts
    • Senior Dog Food
    • Senior Health
      • Rheumatoid Arthritis
      • Osteoarthritis
        • Arthritis Aids
        • Arthritis Treatment
        • Arthritis Symptoms
      • Dog Cancer
        • Skin Cancer
      • Incontinence
        • Incontinence Products
        • Urine Stains
  • Grooming
    • Tear Stains
    • Bath Time
      • Hypoallergenic Shampoo
    • Eye Care
    • Brushing Teeth
      • Dental Chews
    • Dog Nails
    • Dog Dandruff
    • Hair Cut
  • Health Issues
    • Common Health Problems
      • Conjunctivitis
      • Ear Infections
      • Dog Flu
      • Lameness
      • Luxating Patella
      • Pain Relief
      • Seasonal Allergies
      • Food Allergies
      • Skin Allergies
    • Digestive Disorders
      • Pancreatitis
      • Food Allergies
      • Constipation
      • Vomiting
    • Emergencies
      • Dog Ate Chocolate
      • Heat Stroke
      • Salmonella Poisoning
    • Hormone Disorders
      • Addison’s Disease
      • Cushing’s Disease
      • Diabetes
      • Hypothyroidism
    • Urinary Tract
      • Bladder Stones
      • Kidney Disease
      • Urinary Tract Infection
  • Training
    • Agility Training
    • Alpha Dog Training
    • Obedience Training
    • Best Dog Training Treat
    • Behavior Problems
      • Aggressive to Dogs
      • Aggressive to People
      • Eating Poop
      • Dog Barking
      • Separation Anxiety
      • Submissive Urination
  • Bichon Breed
    • Bichon Frise Dogs
    • Hyperallergenic
    • Temperament
    • Personalities
  • Shops
    • Dog Crate Furniture
    • Bicycle Dog Carriers
    • Small Dog Carriers
    • Mugs
    • Mousepads
    • Jewelry
You are here: Home / Most Common Health Problems in Bichon Frises / Dog Heat Stroke

Dog Heat Stroke

When there is hot weather, high humidity and poor air circulation, dogs can suffer a dog heat stroke fast. Keep your dog cool to cut the risks of a stroke.

Dogs easily suffer from heat exhaustion when they are physically active in hot weather. A dog will suffer heat exhaustion first.  Later, if not relieved from the heat, he can have a heat stroke.  Dog who are stressed by heat can develop serious problems.

Some dogs, including Bichon Frises with their very heavy coats, are even more at risk than others.

Bichon Frise panting
When a dog is panting rapidly, he may be too warm and could be in trouble. Drinking water can help cool him down.

What is a Dog Heat Stroke?

Because dogs don’t have body cooling mechanisms like you, they are not able to sweat. Sweating is how people cool down or get rid of excess heat.

The only way that dogs can cool themselves is by panting. When dogs pant, cooler air is taken into their lungs and their body heat is dissipated.

In addition, a dog also has blood vessels in his tongue and mouth that act as little heat exchangers, cooling his blood as the dog pants and his saliva evaporates.

However, panting does not cool a dog very quickly, and a hot dog can quickly get into trouble. When a dog’s body gets too hot and he cannot cool down fast enough, he suffers a heat stroke.

During a heat stroke, a dog’s temperature can reach 109 degrees F! That’s really high, as a dog’s normal temperature is 101.5 degrees F.

Heat stroke in dogs causes brain damage and it can be fatal. So, we need to be very careful with our dogs when the air temperature rises.

Dogs like this little Bichon Frise instinctively know that shade helps keep them cooler to avoid a dog heat stroke.
Dogs like this little Bichon Frise instinctively know that shade helps keep them cooler to avoid a dog heat stroke.

Risk for Dog Heat Strokes

Some dogs are naturally more at risk than others. If you have one of the following, you’ll need to be especially careful to protect your dog:

  • Old dogs
  • Sick dogs
  • Fat dogs
  • Puppies
  • Dogs with heavy coats (Bichon Frises)
  • Small headed, short-nosed breeds (Boxer, Pekingese, Pug, Mastiff)
  • High energy dog that keeps playing and running in the heat (Bichon Frises)
  • Hunting dog or watch dog who lives outside and cannot escape from the heat  (usually not a Bichon Frise)
  • Dogs with black hair (Dobermans, Rottweilers, Black Labradors)

Conditions for Dog Heat Strokes

When the weather gets hot, dogs are much more susceptible to heat stroke.

In fact, a dog can have a heat stroke, simply because of a lack of air circulation. Having a continuous flow of air (like the air from a fan) on a dog’s body helps to keep his temperature down. (Does your dog try to stick her head out the window of your car when it is moving?)

Dogs can even have heat strokes at 75 degrees F, if the air circulation in a room or car is poor. When the weather is hotter than 80 degrees, dogs are at an even greater risk.

Every year dozens of dogs die of heat stroke, because they were left in a car with the windows shut or only partially open. Sunshine on the car increases the heat in the car, and a dog who can’t get cool quickly enough, can easily die from the excessive heat.

Dog Heat Stroke Symptoms

When your dog is suffering from heat stress, she will have symptoms that will tip you off. Here are some of the warning signs to look for:

  • Heavy or loud panting
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Increased heart rate
  • Deep red or purple tongue and/or gums
  • Vomiting
  • Dizziness
  • Glazed eyes
  • A frightened or staring expression

How to Prevent a Dog Heat Stroke

Fortunately there are ways to make sure that your dog does not suffer from a dog heat stroke. Here are some things that you can do:

Walks or Runs

If it’s hot outside, don’t jog with your dog or even take your dog for a walk. Take walks with your dog in the early morning or evening, when it’s cooler.

Make or Find Shade

Dogs will instinctively seek shade when they are hot. If your dog is outside, make sure there is some shade for her. If you go camping or your dog likes to be outside with you, beside the pool, consider getting a Pet Cot which allows air circulation all around your dog and a Pet Canopy to give her shade from the sun.

Cold Drinks

Cold water should be available all day. If you go for a walk or a trip in the car, make sure you take water for your dog. Consider buying a collapsible travel bowl for your dog so that he’ll always have water available.

Cool Water

A cooling bandana can help keep your Bichon cool. You wet the bandana, wring it out, and it will help your dog stay cooler. If you will be at home, consider a dog swimming pool for your Bichon. This portable one is foldable, and comes with a carrying bag.

Wet Towel

On extremely hot days, place a wet towel on your dog or fill a kids’ wading pool with cold water for your dog.

Feeding Times

Feed your dog early in the morning or late in the evening.

Avoid Hot Surfaces

Stand on the grass with your dog instead of hot cement or macadam. Hot surfaces can actually burn your dog’s sensitive paws.

Be Careful with Haircuts

Even if you have a puppy cut for your Bichon, don’t shave off all your dog’s hair. Leaving some hair actually protects her from sunburn and helps insulate her from extreme heat.

Leave Your Dog at Home

When you go out to run errands, leave your dog at home in hot weather. Even a very short time (5 minutes) can heat your car to temperatures that can hurt your dog. She will be much safer at home with the air conditioning or fan on her.

When we suffer from the heat, so do our dogs. So, when the temperature rises, it’s important to keep your Bichon Frise in mind and to take steps to keep her safe and happy.

And, most of all, keeping your Bichon comfortable will also prevent the tragedy of a dog heat stroke.

Bichon Frise puppy lying on his back

If you found this article helpful,

please take a few seconds to share it with a friend…

 

 

Related Articles

Common health conditions in Bichon Frise

Aging dogs need access to water

Dogs can get dementia

Subscribe to Bichon Buzz for Free Updates

Thinking about Signing Up?

If you sign up for my newsletter, in addition to giving you updates about my website, I may notify you occasionally about special deals and bargains that I  think you’ll love.

You can be confident that I will never share your information with a third party.

If your circumstances change, I understand.  You can always unsubscribe and your information will be deleted.

Need Help with Bichon Training?

Act Now to Get Help…

Claim your FREE mini-course on Bichon Frises now…

WHAT’S NEW?

Bichon Frise Puppies

How can you tell if your puppy has distemper?

Is Dog Neutering Right for Your Dog?

How to Handle Puppy Teething

Why is Your Puppy Vomiting?

Old Bichon Frise Dogs

Canine Skin Cancer in Bichon Frises

Does your Bichon have pancreatitis?

Cataracts in Bichon Frise Dogs

Canine Kidney Disease or Kidney Failure - How it Affects You and Your Dog

Could Your Dog Have Dementia?

All Bichon Frise Dogs

Dog Flu Symptoms - Should You Worry?

Your Bichon Dog Ate Chocolate - What Should You Do?

Does your Bichon have a canine urinary tract infection?

Rid Your Bichon Frise dog of Unsightly Dandruff

Is Your Bichon Suffering from Canine Constipation?







HeartGard Plus is undeniably the most popular medication specifically meant for prevention of heartworms in dogs. It is very important that you do all you can to ensure that your dog is free of heartworm, shop now!

There may be links in this post that are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I may receive an affiliate commission, which does not affect the price you pay for the product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services that I use personally or believe to be the best value for my readers.

  • About Me
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertising Disclosure
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact Us

© 2008–2021 All-About Bichon-Frises.com All Rights Reserved