I am sorry to hear of your loss. It is always hard to lose a pet, especially when they are viewed as a member of the family.
58Limited: I didn't know you were a veterinarian! I think that Bulldogs are rather suceptible to heat anyway. There was a bulldog breeder here a few years ago that lost 4 of her dogs after being outside in 95 F temps for a few hours. I have heard that dogs with the short or no muzzles have a propensity for breathing problems in adverse conditions, have you heard of that as well?
To Everyone:
Remember that out animals depend on us to keep them well. And it up to us to safegard their health and well being. This includes ensuring that our pets are not subjected to adverse conditions. As a dog behavioural specialist, you would not believe the things I see and hear almost on a weekly basis!
Two years ago our neighbors left their black lab outside on a 100 degree day, and I came home and my dogs were barking their heads off at the fence. I looked over and there was their poor black lab, passed out on the patio with her tongue hanging out, of course the people weren't at home, I took the dog in to my house and put her in the bath and showered her with cool water. She recovered, but to my surprise the people who owned her didn't think that that could happen to a dog!