Caring for your Frenchie during the Summer

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Caring for your Frenchie in the Summer

There’s arguably no better time of the year – Summer. From June to September, we can ditch our jackets and sweatpants and throw on our favorite t-shirts and shorts.

Goodbye, chilly weather, and hello warm sunshine. There’s not a cloud in sight.

While most of us gladly welcome the Summer weather, I’m sure you can agree that sometimes it just gets too hot, especially for those of you from hot and humid places such as Florida or Southern California.

Let’s put it this way.

If you think it’s hot out, then your Frenchie must think the world’s on fire!

Frenchies vs. Summer

Frenchies are what you’d call a brachycephalic breed, which all dogs with flat faces (Pugs, Shih-Tzus, Frenchies) are.

Their smushed little faces are the cutest thing ever, but these good looks don’t come at a cost… unfortunately these breeds have a hard time regulating their body temperature, and summertime is undoubtedly the hardest time for them.

The Sun is Still Shining

Fortunately, there are many ways you can help your Frenchie keep cool and comfy this Summer.

Don’t Underestimate the Heat

How to Keep your Frenchie Cool this Summer

Cot

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that the ground gets extremely hot during the Summer.

There’s gotta be a way your Frenchie can hang around outside without being toasted by the scorching hot asphalt, right?

Of course.

My Frenchie loves laying on her cot outside. It keeps her off the hot ground while still being able to bask in the sun.

They’re comfy, and she loves using it all-year-round.

Kiddie Pool

You may or may not know, but Frenchies are about as far from an Olympic swimmer as you can get.

Fans

There’s nothing like cranking a fan on max and blowing the cool air right on your face when it’s hot out.

Whether your Frenchie is inside or outside, fans are an easy way to keep their temperature in check.

Shaded Areas

If your Frenchie is anything like mine, then they absolutely love to soak in the heat and sunbathe for what seems like hours

Just because it’s hot out, doesn’t mean the fun needs to stop, however, you’ll need to make a few accommodations.

Similar to the cots mentioned earlier, you can also find cabanas just for dogs! It’s like the cot, but with an canopy shade overhead.

These are a great option if you don’t already have a big umbrella or shaded area at home, and are much cheaper than those you’d find for us humans.

Hydration, hydration, hydration!

How to keep your Frenchie quenched

You’ll want to keep water easily accessible to your Frenchie at all times.

I personally keep a bowl of water outside as well as a few throughout my house.

Signs of Dehydration and Overheating

Early Signs

• Heavy panting
• Lethargy
• Bright red dry gums
• Thick drool (usually comes out of the side of your Frenchie’s mouth)
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Sunken eyes
• Loss of skin elasticity

Severe Signs

• Wobbly legs and trouble with balance
• Noisy breathing (okay, Frenchies always breathe loud, but you should be able to tell when something’s wrong)
• Uncontrollable peeing or pooping
• Unwilling to move

What to do if your Frenchie is dehydrated

If your Frenchie is showing signs of dehydration, you’re going to need to cool them off immediately. If symptoms are severe, you should take them to a vet ASAP.

1. Bring them inside
2. Let them cool off in their pool
3. Use a cold, wet towel to cool them off

Don’t forget sunscreen

We aren’t the only ones that can get sunburnt. Frenchies can too!

If your Frenchie is going to be outside for extended periods of time, you should seriously think about putting some sunscreen on them.

At the very least, you’ll want to put sunscreen on their nose and ears as those are the most susceptible to sunburn. You can also apply it to their whole coat.

Time your walks

I’m sure we’ve all ran outside for a minute and left your shoes back inside.

Walking on burning hot asphalt is no fun. If you can’t walk barefoot on the ground or place your hand there for more than a few seconds, it’s too hot for your Frenchie to be walking on.

Signs it’s too hot for a walk

• Place your bare hand or foot flat on the ground for 10 seconds. Does it start to burn? Then it’s too hot.
• Do you notice your Frenchie is limping or hopping as they walk?

Tips for Summertime Walks

• Walk on the grass as much as possible
• Stay under shaded areas
• Have your Frenchie throw on some shoes
• Concrete doesn’t get as hot as asphalt (it still gets hot though!)

Sometimes it seems like we just can’t escape the heat. There’s definitely a fine line between “hot and nice” and “brutally hot and suffocating” weather.

To get around this, you’ll need to time your walks to be early in the morning or later in the evening. Sure, a short walk to go potty during the day won’t hurt, just keep it short and sweet.

Summertime Dangers

Summer isn’t all fun and games when it comes to your Frenchie.

That blistering heat can drain your Frenchie’s energy quickly and leave them trying to catch their breath.

A few things to keep in mind

• Heatstroke
• The ground gets really hot
• Never leave your Frenchie alone in the car, especially during the Summer
• Be careful around swimming pools
• Traveling by plane is much more of an ordeal
• Be careful of pests such as ticks, mosquitoes, and fleas