Retrospective analysis of patient and environmental factors in heat-induced injury events in 103 military working dogs

Gogolski, Susan; O’Brien, Catherine; Lagutchik, Michael S.

doi:10.2460/javma.256.7.792

Cited by 10 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…In comparison, the highest maximum daily WBGT recorded in the present study was 23.1 °C, suggesting that UK dogs developed HRI at relatively low ambient temperatures compared to dogs from a country where heat acclimatisation is possible. The median maximum daily WBGT when UK dogs presented with exertional HRI was 16.5 °C in the current study, which is much lower than the temperatures typically associated with exertional HRI in US military working dogs (>26.7 °C) [ 22 ]. The lowest maximum daily WBGT recorded in the present study (3.3 °C) was for a HRI event triggered by exertion during the winter.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

“…No formal guidelines exist for dogs training or working in hot environments. A review of HRI in military working dogs reported that three-quarters of HRI events occurred at a WBGT > 26.7 °C; the lowest recorded WBGT for an event was 20.4 °C [ 22 ]. Military working dogs are typically athletically fit, heat-acclimatised dogs with non-extreme conformational phenotypes, suggesting that an average pet dog would likely develop HRI at even lower temperatures.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Risk Factors for Severe and Fatal Heat-Related Illness in UK Dogs—A VetCompass Study

Hall

Carter

Chico

et al. 2022

Veterinary Sciences

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Heat-related illness (HRI) is predicted to increase in dogs due to rising global temperatures. This study evaluated retrospective VetCompass veterinary clinical records to explore geographical variability and ambient conditions associated with HRI events in UK dogs, and report the intrinsic (canine) and extrinsic (location, trigger, ambient weather) risk factors for severe disease and fatal outcome in dogs affected by HRI. Dogs living in London had the greatest odds for developing HRI compared with dogs living in the North West (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.31–2.74). The median ambient temperature on days of HRI events was 16.9 °C. For dogs with HRI, age, bodyweight and trigger were risk factors associated with severe disease. Age, skull shape and clinical grade of HRI presentation were associated with a fatal outcome. Whilst the majority of HRI events overall were triggered by exertion, the risk of severe disease was greater in situations where dogs could not escape the heat source (vehicular confinement), and the risk of death in HRI cases was greater for those dogs with reduced capacity to thermoregulate (older and brachycephalic dogs). These results highlight the need for better owner awareness of the factors that increase the risk of severe and fatal HRI, as a first stage in protecting canine welfare in the face of rising global temperatures.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk Factors for Severe and Fatal Heat-Related Illness in UK Dogs—A VetCompass Study

Hall

Carter

Chico

et al. 2022

Veterinary Sciences

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“…The conflicting findings of this study compared to previous reports suggesting an increased risk of exertional HRI in Shepherd type dogs likely reflects the difference in study populations, with the current study population being the first to explore HRI in first opinion veterinary practice. Additionally, the potential for an underlying genetic predisposition for HRI in military working dogs (Belgian Malinois) has been suggested [ 42 ], potentially associated with low levels of expression of heat shock proteins [ 43 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dogs Don’t Die Just in Hot Cars—Exertional Heat-Related Illness (Heatstroke) Is a Greater Threat to UK Dogs

Hall

Carter

O’Neill

2020

Animals

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Heat-related illness will affect increasing numbers of dogs as global temperatures rise unless effective mitigation strategies are implemented. This study aimed to identify the key triggers of heat-related illness in dogs and investigate canine risk factors for the most common triggers in UK dogs. Using the VetCompassTM programme, de-identified electronic patient records of 905,543 dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016 were reviewed to identify 1259 heat-related illness events from 1222 dogs. Exertional heat-related illness was the predominant trigger (74.2% of events), followed by environmental (12.9%) and vehicular confinement (5.2%). Canine and human risk factors appear similar; young male dogs had greater odds of exertional heat-related illness, older dogs and dogs with respiratory compromise had the greatest odds of environmental heat-related illness. Brachycephalic dogs had greater odds of all three types of heat-related illness compared with mesocephalic dogs. The odds of death following vehicular heat-related illness (OR 1.47, p = 0.492) was similar to that of exertional heat-related illness. In the UK, exertional heat-related illness affects more dogs, and kills more dogs, than confinement in a hot vehicle. Campaigns to raise public awareness about heat-related illness in dogs need to highlight that dogs don’t die just in hot cars.

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“…Obesity and reduced activity have been identified as key risk factors for heat-related illness in pet dogs (36), and the interaction between body condition and skull shape has been identified as a factor influencing heat stress and thermoregulation in brachycephalic dogs, in particular, at temperatures as low as 22 • C (37). For the average pet dog, we have no systematic means of categorizing their risk from heat exposure as we do for ourselves and certain species of working animals (e.g., military working dog and dairy cattle) (8,10,12,19). Using the risk measurement tool most familiar to the average pet owner, the heat index, we were able to document the relative frequency of hours in each National Weather Service Heat Index risk classification for pet dogs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These same risks apply to our companion and livestock animals. Studies have attempted to quantify the effects of exertion, environmental temperature and individual factors that augment individual risk for heat related illness or injury in military working dogs, canine athletes, and production animals (9)(10)(11)(12). However, limited attention has been given to the environmental factors that contribute to the average pet dog's risk for heat related illness or injury.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental Heat Exposure Among Pet Dogs in Rural and Urban Settings in the Southern United States

et al. 2021

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With advancing global climate change, heat-related illnesses and injuries are anticipated to become more prevalent for humans and other species. Canine hyperthermia is already considered an important seasonal emergency. Studies have been performed on the risk factors for heat stroke in canine athletes and military working dogs; however there is limited knowledge on environmental risk factors for the average pet dog. This observational study explores variation in individually experienced environmental temperatures of pet dogs (N = 30) in rural and urban environments in central Alabama. Temperature data from dogs and their owners was collected using wearable personal thermometers. Demographic data on the dogs was collected using a brief survey instrument completed by their owners. Dogs included in the study varied in signalment, activity level, and home environment. Linear mixed effects regression models were used to analyze repeated measure temperature and heat index values from canine thermometers to explore the effect of environmental factors on the overall heat exposure risk of canine pets. Specifically, the heat exposures of dogs were modeled considering their owner's experienced temperatures, as well as neighborhood and local weather station measurements, to identify factors that contribute to the heat exposure of individual dogs, and therefore potentially contribute to heat stress in the average pet dog. Results show hourly averaged temperatures for dogs followed a diurnal pattern consistent with both owner and ambient temperature measurements, except for indoor dogs whose recordings remained stable throughout the day. Heat index calculations showed that owners, in general, had more hours categorized into the National Weather Station safe category compared to their dogs, and that indoor dogs had a greater proportion of hours categorized as safe compared to outdoor dogs. Our results suggest that the risk of the average pet dog to high environmental heat exposure may be greater than traditional measures indicate, emphasizing that more localized considerations of temperature are important when assessing a dog's environmental risk for heat-related injury or illness.

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Retrospective analysis of patient and environmental factors in heat-induced injury events in 103 military working dogs

Cited by 10 publications

References 18 publications

Risk Factors for Severe and Fatal Heat-Related Illness in UK Dogs—A VetCompass Study

Risk Factors for Severe and Fatal Heat-Related Illness in UK Dogs—A VetCompass Study

Dogs Don’t Die Just in Hot Cars—Exertional Heat-Related Illness (Heatstroke) Is a Greater Threat to UK Dogs

Environmental Heat Exposure Among Pet Dogs in Rural and Urban Settings in the Southern United States

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