Every breed of dog is suited for a particular temperature condition like while you cannot make a Siberian husky thrive in the extreme heat, a Doberman can easily survive the heat!
Bulldogs are no exceptions!
They too require a specific climate and temperature to remain healthy and fit. Despite the fact that they do not have fur in their body, yet they cannot adjust to the extremes of temperatures.
Yes, both extremes of temperature, either too hot or too cold can affect your bulldog, and therefore, they require a moderate temperature for the healthy functioning of their body and that is why you should never allow your bulldog to sleep outside if the weather outside is not suitable. In the worst situations if left outside they can suffer from sunburns, cold and heat strokes, hypothermia, smelly coat, etc.!
Through the course of this article we shall learn about the ideal temperature conditions for a bulldog and why can’t they tolerate too much heat and cold. Also, I shall detail about the effects of extremes of temperature on then and how to tackle the conditions!
So, take a few minutes to go down the article and learn what’s best for your bulldog…
What is the ideal temperature for a bulldog?
The ideal body temperature of a bulldog is generally considered to be 98° F. So, the ideal surrounding temperature should be around 70°.
Temperature above the mentioned degree and temperature below 25° F can be quite discomforting and even harmful for them.
So, a moderate temperature indoors that you feel comfortable in, should be suitable for your bulldog too.
Do not be deceived with their muscular and short stature, broad shoulders, tenacious attitude and less to no fur in their body! All these features might compel you to believe that they are of strong build and can adjust to any climatic conditions.
But that’s not the truth!
They are easily susceptible to heat and cold strokes along with various other health problems when left outside in the extremes of temperatures which I shall discuss in the section below…
How does the outside heat affect the bulldog?
When the outside temperature is very hot, it can cause a number of troubles for your bulldog because of the following reasons:
1.) Bulldogs cannot pant to the required amount:
Bulldogs have a hard time panting properly and regulating their body temperature as well heart rate and this is all because of their short snouts.
Therefore, when they return from the extreme outside heat, their body takes a long time to cool down and they have difficulty breathing.
Signs of distress due to overheating and lack of panting in bulldogs:
• The rate of panting increases suddenly
• Their tongue sticks out from the sides of their mouth
• Their nose and throat start producing weird sounds of heavy breathing
• They lie down in one position for long and doesn’t respond to you
Preventive measures:
• Switch on the AC as soon as their return home
• Make them drink enough cold water
• Make them chew some ice cubes if needed
• Splash cold water on them or take them for a shower
• Do not provide them food before 2 hours of their return from outside
• Do not let them stay out for more than 15 mins
• Better do not let them go out if the temperature outside is too hot beyond your bearability
Bulldogs have layers of skin and wrinkles on their face and body:
Yes, bulldogs have those extra layers of skin on their body which becomes troublesome for the heat. It causes them to heat up quite easily and make it difficult for them to cool down fast as well.
2.) Bulldogs are prone to heat strokes:
This is because of the above two mentioned reasons that’s short snouts and extra skin layers due to which they tend to heat up easily and cannot cool down and their heart rate either triggers or slows down causing heat strokes.
Signs of heat stroke in bulldogs:
• They will heave and pant excessively
• Their eyeball will become fixed
• Their tongue will roll out
• They suddenly lose consciousness and faint
• Their heart will stop beating
3.) Bulldogs are susceptible to skin allergies:
Yes, this is due to their overheating and also because they are allergic to dust and pollens from the outside that they tend to develop skin allergies and sunburns quite easily.
Signs of skin allergies and sunburns in bulldogs:
• Redness of the skin
• They will tend to scratch the area all day long
• Blood may ooze out from the infected areas due to scratching
• Fur might shed completely from the infected area
• Discoloration of the skin
• Popping out of rashes that don’t seem to go away
• Extreme skin allergies might lead to increased heart rate and trauma
Preventive measures:
• Consult the vet when you see the rashes and itching in them
• Cover the infected area with a cloth or protective covering so that they cannot scratch the area directly with their nails
• Apply ice cubes on the rashes
• Apply medicated ointments for allergies, rashes and redness as per prescribed by the vet
• Do not apply normal soap in those areas for a few days until the skin problem heals completely
• Keep them in cool place always like outside shades and at home under the fan or AC
4.) The coat of bulldog becomes smelly when kept in the heat:
The outside heat will make your bulldog’s coat to sweat which will in turn produce smell in thir body. You can easily detect the smell when your bulldog returns home and you close the doors and windows and turn the AC on!
Preventive measures:
• Do not let them stay outside for long
• Make them enjoy the outside by chaining them with a tree so that they stay under its cool shade
• Give them a bubble bath as soon as they return from the heat (of course after cooling them down with drinking water and ample rest)
• After the shower, apply powder and deodorant on their coat
• Make them stay hydrated all day long
How does the outside cold affect the bulldog?
Here’s how and why the outside cold weather can affect your bulldog and ways to deal with it:
Bulldogs have hard time regulating their body temperature:
This is because of their short snouts that need maximum time to adjust to the cold air. The short snouts have difficulty converting the outside cold to hot air circulation in the body.
Also, they have a thin layer of skin and very less fur in their body. These might cause the following problems:
Signs of cold attack in bulldogs:
• They might suffer from hypothermia that is extreme shivering from the cold that does not tend to stop at all
• They just don’t seem to move due to extreme weakness caused by numbness in their body due to cold
• Their body turns cold with temperature dropping below 94° F
• Their heart rate drops drastically
• Their pupils start to dilate and the eyeball start to give a fixed gaze
• They lose their consciousness or might even go into a state of coma
Preventive measures:
• If the outside temperature is freezing, better let them stay cozy inside
• If you want to take them outside for a walk, make them wear a dog coat
• Cover them with a warm blanket once they are back home so that the body temperature returns to normal
• Do not let them out for more than 30 minutes
• If you see any sign of distress mentioned above, immediately rush to the vet
What do we conclude?
So, all in all we can conclude that bulldogs will face problems in both cold and heat but thank God now you know the warning signs as well their preventive measures to take care of!
Above all, your bulldog enjoys your company the most and so it is better not to let them stay outside alone and unattended and rather keep them inside the house with you to enjoy!
