Summer sessions are in full swing—and so is the Pittsburgh heat! With temperatures reaching upwards of 90°, keeping your dog safe and cool during our time together is particularly important, especially if you have a brachycephalic breed, otherwise known as a short-nosed dog. (Brachy means “shortened” and cephalic “head.”)
Is your dog at risk?
Brachycephalic breeds, like Boston terriers, pugs, bulldogs, Chihuahuas, Pekingese, Lhasa apso, and Shih Tzus, are just a few particularly prone to dangerous summer conditions like heat exhaustion or heatstroke. Their cute, smooshy faces that we absolutely adore unfortunately make them more likely to experience these warm weather woes, which is why it is crucial to be aware of indicators suggesting your dog may have had enough heat. With their shorter noses, these dogs are not able to filter or cool the air entering their nasal conchaes as efficiently as dogs with longer noses since brachycephalic breeds’ conchae consume more of their nasal cavity. So why don’t these breeds just use their mouths to breathe and cool themselves? The answer again is complicated by their soft palates that prevent air from reaching their trachea, which can be roughly 3/4 smaller than those of other breeds.
signs and symptoms
Keep an eye out for symptoms that indicate dyspnea, or breathing difficulties, such as labored or noisy breathing, high-pitched wheezing, choking, or extended periods of open-mouth breathing. Vomiting, excessive panting, glazed eyes, seizures, and difficulty walking are also indications that your short-nosed pup may be in danger. If you suspect your dog is having trouble withstanding the heat, one of the most important steps you can take is to move him inside immediately.
surviving your summer session
Although Pittsburgh summers can get brutally hot, it should not mean that your flat-faced fur kid should have to skip out on his session. Here are a few suggestions that can help make your summer photography experience safe and enjoyable for any dog.
- Schedule your session in the early evening when it is less humid and the sun is starting to set.
- Keep your four-legged friend shaded as much as possible.
- If your dog loves to swim, consider a location that features a lake or pond so he can take a dip and cool off.
- Bring along a bottle of water and bowl and provide adequate water breaks (but don’t stress if you forget; I always have water in my bag).
If you’re ready to treat your best friend to the Bark & Gold experience, I’d love to connect! Choose your adventure below to begin.
Did you enjoy this post? Great, there’s more coming your way because it’s part of a photography blog circle featuring pet photographers from all over the world! To see more content like this and what the next photographer is sharing for our weekly theme, “By a Nose,” check out Pawparazzi Pet and Animal Photography presented by Shae Pepper Photography. Continue to click the link at the end of each post in the blog circle until you eventually find your way back here.
Great job with our topic this week and helping to educate dog owners about keeping their dogs safe in this extreme heat!
Thanks, Kim! I have a ton of sessions scheduled over the coming weeks and Pittsburgh isn’t showing many signs of cooling down much. It’s so important that we keep these tips in mind, even though we can become distracted by the fun of a session.
I love how used this opportunity for bringing awareness! Couple of lovely dogs, and a good read!
Thanks, Sam! I am aiming to incorporate more cornerstone or “evergreen” content into my project 52 posts that my clients can benefit from as well.
I love what you did with this theme. You made it summer essential! Love it!
Thank you! I am really trying to provide more “evergreen” content to my clients.
Great info about brachycephatic breeds. Fortunately for me, my shih-tzu doesn’t like going outside, so the heat isn’t too much of a problem for him.
Another danger to be aware of is that weight gain can cause their already-small nasal passages to get smaller, which can then lead to breathing problems. I have to get Charlie on a diet because this is happening to him.
Yes, great point about weight, Tim!
Great info – it’s very hot and humid in Florida – but most of my dogs have longer noses – not those which make it look like they ran into something 🙂
I have a long-nosed Lab, but I’ve even noticed that he gets this cute little wrinkle beneath his eye when he’s too warm. I can’t imagine how the little smoosh-faces feel with an even lessened inability to cool.
Fantastic advice. I see it all too often uneducated people. They don’t mean to put their dog(s) at risk but it happens. Thanks for educating.
Exactly! It’s so important to just be aware in this heat, and as photographers, it is our job to also keep our clients safe. If that means pushing back a session or rescheduling due to heat, so be it.
That’s a great, informative read. Thanks. I didn’t realise that shorter noses meant it was harder to cool down. I’ve learnt heaps today reading these posts. Love it!
I know! This week has been enlightening learning all these fun nose facts from everyone!
Such great info! Thank you so much for such a great blog.
Thanks, Shae, I appreciate it!
Great educational tips! I”m ready for autumn and temps in the 50’s that’s for sure!
I love summer most, but fall sure does have its perks. I actually can’t wait for autumn colors as well (and no sweating during sessions)!
Great idea to include some beating the heat summer tips; great job!
Thank you, Tracy!
Hello,
I am Wil, I’m an up and coming blogger from TravelingPetSafety. I want to start off by saying, great piece on the effect of summer heat on brachycephalic dog breeds! You really thought outside the box when you wrote this post. I am from New York which is a hop skip away from Pittsburgh, I know better than to underestimate the east coast heat. Without the proper preparation, the heat can be deadly for brachycephalic breeds like Boxer, Pugs, and Bulldogs. I wrote an article about a similar topic! My 4,000-word article about flying with flat-faced dog breeds and how it affects dogs with breathing issues. I respect your work and would greatly appreciate it if you read my article https://www.travelingpetsafety.com/snub-nosed-dogs/ and leave some feedback.
Again, kickass article and I look forward to reading more of your thoughts!
Thanks, Wil
Hi, Wil! I’ll definitely take a look.