Ozzie really seems much like his ole self this week. His appetite equals at least 4 bulldogs lately and his outings to pee are more frequent all thanks to the prednisone but if that is the worst thing we will take it! There are some things that he doesn't do anymore. He doesn't go up on the couch in the family room which was his favorite place to roost! It's not that he can't physically do it ( he got up there real quick last night for a taste of some of Pops ice cream) its just that he chooses not to. He rather lay on the wood floor these days maybe because its cooler?! The weather here has been hot, hot, hot! With day time temperatures in the 90's its not fit for man or bulldog out there.
Ozzie also doesn't nap as long as he use to. He was in the habit of taking long morning naps after his breakfast but now he seems wide awake all the time. I wonder if the medication has something to do with it or his body chemistry has changed?! Well anyway as we roll into the weekend and Ozzie begins his 4th year with us we will do some barbecue and try to keep cool. Saturday's weather forecast has an excessive heat watch for our area because the temps will be in the high 90's with heat index values in the 100 degree range. Thank goodness for air conditioning!
This is the hungry face staring at me day and night! "Please Mom, can I have some more!"
I have a box fan that I plop in front of where ever Ozzie is laying to give him extra breeze on days like this. Even though we have central AC it still can get a little warmer in the house midday.
Keep your pets indoors and have a cool weekend!
Over Heating in Dogs
Saturday was so beautiful that we decided to take Ozzie to a local park in the afternoon. A slow stroll in the park was definitely the ticket for the day, ....so we thought.
We started off easy in the shade slowly making our way down to the dog park enclosures. Ozzie did is usual slow gate and we followed. He chose to remain outside of the dog park fence and masterfully peed on it as the other pups stared from inside. Ozzie thinks it looks too much like a stalag barracks and rather remain on the outside of the fence! It wasn't long before Ozzie started to lead us back to the car. There he began panting like mad and we quickly gave him some water. All the way he panted heavily in the back of the car while we cranked the AC. Luckily a short ride home we got him in the house and started to give him ice cubes to cool him down. A half dozen ice cubes later he recouped but I was worried. This was the first warm day in the upper 70's and we had forgotten how little it takes for Ozzie to over heat.
Bulldogs have difficulty in cooling down since dogs cool themselves through their breathing. Their flat snout is not very efficient in the exchange of air flow. Also the bulldogs windpipe or trachea is very narrow exasperating the situation! Hot pavement also adds to the heat distress. Dogs cool off through their pads on their feet as well. So a pavement that can get upwards to 120 degrees is a problem. ( Feel it with your hand first then you be the judge!)
So with the a long hot summer on the horizon lets keep in mind what we may think is a gorgeous day may be a scorcher and potential danger for our bullies. I have the 80 degree rule in mind. If its 80 or over keep your bullie in the AC where he is most comfortable.(With Ozzie it's the 75 and over rule) If you ask the Oz that's where he rather be!
Go to the link below for more information on this very important bullie subject!
