I’m a dog walker – here’s my urgent warning after my pet died while snoozing in the shade
A DOG walker has issued a warning to animal lovers after her healthy dog died while snoozing in the shade.
Kim Reid, 24, said she followed guidance to prevent heatstroke but still lost her French Bulldog, Bruno, on May 30 after he spent some time in the garden.
The two-year-old was with Kim’s other pooches, Enzo and Louie, who were playing in the garden, while Bruno found a shady spot to relax.
But he succumbed to heatstroke despite having plenty of water, shade, and access to the house and Kim says she wants to make other dog owners aware of the dangers.
Kim, from Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone, in Northern Ireland, said: “I had no idea a dog could die when they were simply enjoying an hour in the garden in the shade.
“I’ve worked with dogs all of my life, I have worked in rescue and rehoming and I’m a professional dog walker.
“The day Bruno died was warm but not very hot, and I was off work and was working in the house while my three dogs were outside enjoying the garden.
“They had access to the house, they had plenty of cool water, I was checking on them regularly and Bruno was enjoying the shade while Enzo and Louie played with each other.
“But then when I went out to check on them, I found Bruno lying dead.
“I thought at first he was just sleeping but he was gone and nothing I could do would bring him back.
‘I STARTED SCREAMING’
“I was so shocked, I started screaming and the neighbours ran to see what was wrong. I just couldn’t believe it.
“I took Bruno into the sitting room and held him in my arms. After an hour or more I thought to take his temperature and even at that stage it was sky high.
“He had died of heatstroke, he had died while lying in the shade in our garden.
“Bruno suffered heatstroke and sadly lost his life because of it.
“He wasn’t running about the garden, I didn’t take him on a walk, he had plenty of water and plenty of shade, he was outside while I was working around the house and he had been coming inside as well.
“The signs that he might be struggling were in no way obvious, but looking back now maybe he seemed a bit more lazy than usual?
“Maybe he was panting a bit more than usual? It was nothing out of the ordinary for him, he loved to laze about and he would pant on the coldest day of the year.
“There is so much online about not walking dogs in the heat, but I never knew just a bit of sun out in the garden could be fatal to dogs.
“Brachycephalic dog breeds (any dog whose muzzle looks like it has been flattened or squashed inwards) like French Bulldogs are more likely to suffer heatstroke than any other dog and I knew that.
“But I just didn’t know how quickly it can affect them even if they are not obviously overheating, and now I know it can be fatal in as little as 15 minutes without any warning.
“I wish I had known. Hindsight is a great thing but it wasn’t enough to save Bruno.
‘DEVASTATED BEYOND WORDS’
“I am devastated beyond words, anyone who knew Bruno would say he was the most relaxed and well-behaved dog you would ever meet, he didn’t deserve what happened and I will forever feel guilty that maybe I should have seen something or known something was wrong.
“This has been the most upsetting, heartbreaking lesson in my life but as upsetting as it is I hope Bruno’s story can save some other doggies from the same fate.
“Please, please, watch your furbabies in this weather, 15 minutes is enough to cause irreversible damage and a lifetime of pain.”
Last week, a vet issued a warning to dog owners about the dangers of heatstroke and revealed the for four signs you need to be aware of.
Experts have also issued a plea to owners to avoid exercising their dogs during the hottest part of the day.
Vets have warned that the average survival rate for dogs diagnosed with heatstroke is only 50 per cent and it can be fatal in just 15 minutes.
The Dogs Trust has shared some top tips for keeping your pets safe in hot weather.
This comes after a vet revealed why he would never take his pet to a dog park.