The Pug Is Too Hot

Remember, one of the things you love most about your pug, a willingness to please and a desire to be near you and involved in what you do, can sometimes mask the symptoms of heat stroke. Particularly with a new pet, you can't just rely on your pug to know when it's time to stop and cool down. AAHA (the American Animal Hospital Association) website offers some great information to keep your pug healthy. In particular, they have this to say about heat stroke in dogs:

Heat stroke

Heat stroke is very serious. Symptoms include extreme panting, salivating, staggering, vomiting and diarrhea. As it becomes fatal, your pet will become comatose and their temperature will range from 104- 110°F.

“Every year we have a sad story of a pet that has heat stroke,” says Carpenter. “I am a marathon runner and have a friend who was out running with his black lab on a warm day. Of course, there was no end to this dog’s enthusiasm. The lab started to pant and stagger and he was fortunate that a passing car saw him to help. They put his dog into the car and rushed to the veterinary hospital, where he was treated for heat stroke. Fortunately, this story ended happily.”

If your pet is experiencing heat stroke, call your veterinarian immediately – time is of the essence. Use cool water to bring the temperature down; Carpenter suggests soaking towels to use while you are driving to the veterinary hospital. However, do not let their temperature drop below 102-103°F as this can cause hypothermia. Your pet will be treated with IV fluid therapy at the hospital. To prevent this situation, access to shade, ventilation and water are key, as well as avoiding exercise during the peak heat of the day (this is particularly important for short-nosed dogs such as pugs, which cannot cool off by panting as efficiently).

Learn More About Keeping Your Dog Safe From Overheating

Photo source: Beesferryvet's Blog