BULLDOGS, PUGS NEED PROTECTION FROM THE HEAT
By Dr. Tony Johnson
Mother Nature usually does things pretty economically, trying to get genes passed on from one generation to the next with a minimum of fuss.
When people step in and start mucking about is usually when the troubles begin. When we breed for a particular look (rather than for a purpose intended to maximize the chances of passing on genes), function gets tossed out the window at the expense of form, and things can get bogged down pretty quickly.
Lots of different dogs suffer from problems because of fad breeding, but perhaps none so much as the short-nosed, or "brachycephalic" breeds such as pugs, English Bulldogs and the like. As the weather turns warmer, we see a lot more of these dogs suffering from heat stroke in our emergency unit at Purdue's School of Veterinary Medicine.
Dogs are largely unable to sweat. Maybe a little around the feet (sometimes my more nervous patients will leave cute little paw-shaped sweat prints on the exam table), but not through their skin as people can. They regulate their body temperature largely though panting, which dumps heat from their bodies through evaporation of water from their tongues rather than their skin.
In order to keep cool through panting, dogs need a good airway. Brachycephalic dogs almost all have narrower windpipes relative to other dogs of comparable size -- a condition known as "tracheal hypoplasia." Bulldogs often have a trachea that would keep a Yorkie quite happy, but for the bulldog, it must be like breathing through a coffee stirrer. When we have to intubate brachycephalic dogs for surgery (which involves placing a soft, plastic tube into their trachea to deliver oxygen and anesthetic gases), they will often wake up with the tube in place after the procedure and seem quite happy to have an open and bigger airway for the first time in their lives. Most other dogs can't wait to get the dang tube out!
Brachycephalic dogs can also have little blobs of tissue in the back of their throat (known as "laryngeal saccules") that can turn inside out and block the airway, and they often have teensy-weensy little nostrils that look cute but don't move too much actual air. Together, tiny tracheas, lumps of flesh and wee nostrils are called a "brachycephalic airway syndrome," and while surgery can fix a few of the problems and provide for a better life for some of these dogs, the threat of heat exhaustion always remains.
When they try to dump excess body heat through panting, brachycephalics have to work so hard to move enough air through their tiny tracheas that they actually end up generating (BEGIN ITAL)more(END ITAL) heat and making things worse. It would be like having a coal-fired air-conditioner in your house; when the house gets warm, the A/C kicks on, but the heat from the coal fire would make the house warmer.
When the weather turns warm and humid, these dogs need to stay in a carefully controlled and cool environment to avoid overheating.
Signs of heat exhaustion -- the last step before heat stroke -- include bright red gums, an inability to get up and loud, raspy panting. Dogs that are going into full-on heat stroke often vomit, become severely lethargic and can have explosive diarrhea. Once heat stroke develops, cooling them down is the top priority but it often is not enough. Some dogs will go down the slippery and tragic slope into multi-organ failure and be unable to be saved, even with days of ICU-level care.
Prevention is the key with this condition, so remember to keep these dogs in a cool environment and always watch out for heat exhaustion.
If you think your dog is suffering from heat stroke or exhaustion, douse them in cool water, get them out of the heat and calmed down, and head for the nearest veterinarian without delay. Even a few minutes can make all the difference in the world.
Dr. Tony Johnson is a board-certified specialist in emergency and critical care and a professor at the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine. He is on the Pet Connection advisory board.
Q&A
Back to basics for
dog who messes home
Q: My dog is no longer a puppy, but he keeps having accidents in the house. I think he does it on purpose, but punishing him doesn't help. I'd like to replace the rugs, but can't until this problem is resolved. Ideas? -- via email
A: Punishing your pet isn't fair, and it isn't the answer: You have to go back to square one and teach him properly. Before you start training, though, you must be sure that what you have is really a behavior problem and not a physical problem. You won't be able to train your pet if he's struggling with an illness. So check with your veterinarian first for a complete checkup.
If you've ruled out medical problems, house-training an adult dog uses the same principles as house-training a puppy, except you have to be even more diligent because you need to do some untraining, too. And a lot of cleaning: You must thoroughly clean any soiled area with enzymatic cleaner (available through pet supply outlets) to eliminate the smell that invites repeat business.
You'll need to teach your dog what's right before you can correct him for what's wrong. To do this, spend a couple of weeks ensuring that he has nothing but successes by never giving him the opportunity to make a mistake.
Here's how:
Leash him to you in the house so you can monitor his every move during his training period. If he starts to mess, tell him "no," take him outside, and give him a command for going ("go now" or even "let's hurry"). Then praise him for doing right, so he starts to understand what you want.
Put him in a crate whenever he's not on leash with you. It's not unfair during training to leave him in a crate for four or five hours at a stretch -- assuming, of course, that he's getting his regular daily exercise.
Take him outside first thing in the morning, as soon as you get home from work and just before you go to bed (when you put him in his crate for the night). Always remember to give your "go" command, and praise him when he does as you wish. People never seem shy about punishing their dogs, but too often forget to praise them -- they take it for granted the dog should do the right thing. Never, ever forget the praise!
If you've been consistent, your dog likely will get a good idea of what's expected of him within a couple of weeks. If you continue to have problems, ask your veterinarian for a referral to a veterinary behaviorist. One-on-one assistance can pinpoint the problems in your training regimen and get you both on the right track. – Gina Spadafori
THE BUZZ
People still spend
on cherished pets
-- Americans spent $55 billion on their pets last year, according to Packaged Facts, a market research firm. Fewer people acquired pets, however, in part because fewer people purchased houses, which has been linked to the addition of pets. There was some decline in "hard goods" such as leashes and bowls, but other categories showed strong sales. Brand-name products and high-end goods continued to do well, attracting lines from Martha Stewart, Ellen DeGeneres, Fisher-Price and General Nutrition Center.
-- The American Kennel Club has added three new breeds for a total of 173 breeds and varieties. Now eligible for championship status are the American English Coonhound, Finnish Lapphund and Cesky Terrier.
-- If your dog is limping, part of the problem may well be excess weight. A study of dogs at least 20 percent more that their ideal body weight evaluated their degrees of lameness. Then the dogs' caloric intake was reduced to prompt them to lose weight while maintaining exercise at the pre-study level. By the end of the study, the dogs had not only lost weight but 82 percent of the dogs were less lame. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker
ABOUT PET CONNECTION
Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" and "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Dr. Becker can also be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker.