Dog owners warned after Finlay the Bulldog almost dies from heatstroke in Scotland
Dog owners across the UK are being warned to take extra care during this week's heatwave after a dog almost died from severe heatstroke.
The American Bulldog Finlay — who was born with three legs — was taking a stroll with his owner in Glasgow when his body temperature reached a terrifying high of 42.2c.
Finlay's owner Shona McLaren told the PDSA vets: "I always bring water for Finlay to drink and keep his walks short. On this occasion, some children starting playing with him and he ran around for a few minutes. I saw him panting and was concerned that he might be getting too hot so decided to take him home to cool down."
Read more: This seven-second test will tell you if it's too hot to walk your dog safely
After Shona spotted that he needed to sit out of the sun, she explained that his "breathing became more laboured" and that he "collapsed completely, his eyes became glassy and his tongue started to turn blue."
It wasn't until they headed to the vets that Finlay began to recover. His body was hosed down with cool water and he was placed on a drip and oxygen therapy. The vets acted immediately to avoid shock and organ failure.
"While any dog can suffer heatstroke, certain dogs are more at risk. Flat-faced breeds such as Bulldogs, Pugs and Shih Tzus are more likely to experience heatstroke as they can’t cool down as effectively through panting, compared to dogs with a longer nose. So it’s especially important to make sure they don’t overheat in the first place," vet Terri Steel explains.
It can be tempting during the hot weather to take dogs outside to cool down, but it's vital they are protected when they are in the direct heat. With temperatures expected to soar to around 37c in some parts of the UK, make sure to keep your dog cool at all times.
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