Which dogs are more susceptible to heat stress?
• Dogs that are elderly, obese or have a history
of heart disease or seizures.
• Dogs with shorter snouts (Pugs, Pekinese,
Bulldogs) have a harder time panting out their
body heat.
• Certain breeds do not tolerate heat as well as
others such as English and French Bulldogs,
Boxers, Saint Bernard’s and Shih Tzu’s
(Australian Dog Lover, 2015).
Why do dogs pant?
Dogs rely on panting to evaporate moisture from
their tongues and the lining of their lungs. Dogs also
rely on ‘vasodilation’ (expansion of blood vessels) in
their ears and face which helps them cool off. When
blood vessels expand, blood is brought closer to
the surface, which cools down and regulates the
internal body temperature.
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