A healthy dog has died from heatstroke despite his owner following the rules around heatstroke in pets.
Kim Reid, a professional dog walker, lost her French Bulldog Bruno on May 30 after he spent some time in the garden, snoozing in the shade.
The two-year-old was with Kim's other dogs, Enzo and Louie who were playing in the garden, while Bruno found a shady spot to relax.
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But he succumbed to heatstroke despite having plenty of water, shade and access to the house and Kim says she wants to reach out to other dog owners to warn them of the dangers.
Kim, 24, from Augher Co Tyrone, 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 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 heat stroke, 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 ways 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 like French Bulldogs are more likely to suffer heat stroke 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. 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 heart breaking 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."
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