Hot Tips & Simple Measures For Keeping Your Frenchie Cool This Summer

Written by; John Niedhamer

Summer is upon us, the time of year when our Frenchies suffer the most. With their lack of ability to shed heat, summers can be intolerable and dangerous. When Frenchies become overheated, their narrow airways can easily become blocked by swelling or their own mucus. Unable to breathe, they can quickly die.

There are many things you can do to make summer more bearable for them:

• Make sure they only go outside early in the morning and late in the evening, when they are least likely to overheat. Don't leave them outside unsupervised.

• Keep the house cool and comfortable for them. If you leave them alone, set up fans or air conditioners where they can enjoy them.

• Make sure there is always plenty of water for them to drink; keep it topped up and make sure it is clean and cool.

• Offer them cool treats. My Frenchies enjoy baby carrots straight from the freezer. They love to crunch away on them on hot days.

• Let them swim: most Frenchies can't manage the deep water of a regular swimming pool. Get them a little plastic kiddie pool. Many Frenchies love to splash in a few inches of cool water. (Note: don't use the inflatable kind of pool. Frenchie nails will quickly puncture it if their teeth don't.)

Signs your Frenchie is overheated:

Heavy uncontrollable panting, tongue swells, eyes bulge, fatigue, vomiting.

If your Frenchie gets into overheating difficulties:

• Get them to a cool location immediately.

• Wet them with cool (NOT ice cold) water.

• Use a spray bottle to wet their bellies, insides of legs, ears.

• When they recover, give them cool (NOT ice cold) water to drink.

It is important NOT to use ICE on an overheated dog. The ice will constrict surface capillaries, moving blood away from the skin and into internal organs. This will slow the exchange of heat and will make it harder for your Frenchie to cool down quickly. Once the dog is cooled, ice can be used. Don't shock the Frenchie's system by trying to cool them down too fast.

If your Frenchie becomes dehydrated, it will become necessary to replace electrolytes as well. Sports drinks that are flavored are not always palatable to Frenchies. The best choice is to use infant formulas such as unflavored Pedialyte.

Remember, don't take your Frenchie for a walk or for vigorous exercise in the heat of a summer day. And DON'T EVER leave your Frenchie unattended in a car. Even early in the day, the interior of a car can heat up very quickly, with lethal results.

In summer, when I walk my Frenchies, I always take a spray bottle full of water with me, even before dawn or in the evening. They often ask me for a spritz in the mouth, or a spray on the tummy as a quick cool down. And it is handy to be prepared in case of emergency.