Dogs Don’t Die Just in Hot Cars—Exertional Heat-Related Illness (Heatstroke) Is a Greater Threat to UK Dogs
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. U...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/8/1324 |
| _version_ | 1797560726347317248 |
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| author | Emily J. Hall Anne J. Carter Dan G. O’Neill |
| author_facet | Emily J. Hall Anne J. Carter Dan G. O’Neill |
| author_sort | Emily J. Hall |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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 VetCompass<sup>TM</sup> 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, <i>p</i> = 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:04:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c93ce65a6c0444d68deab121b7cd9cf1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:04:35Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-c93ce65a6c0444d68deab121b7cd9cf12023-11-20T08:38:46ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152020-07-01108132410.3390/ani10081324Dogs Don’t Die Just in Hot Cars—Exertional Heat-Related Illness (Heatstroke) Is a Greater Threat to UK DogsEmily J. Hall0Anne J. Carter1Dan G. O’Neill2School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Brackenhurst, Southwell, Notts NG25 0QF, UKSchool of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Brackenhurst, Southwell, Notts NG25 0QF, UKPathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Herts AL9 7TA, UKHeat-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 VetCompass<sup>TM</sup> 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, <i>p</i> = 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/8/1324VetCompassprimary-carecanine heatstrokeheat-related illnessheat stressbrachycephalic |
| spellingShingle | Emily J. Hall Anne J. Carter Dan G. O’Neill Dogs Don’t Die Just in Hot Cars—Exertional Heat-Related Illness (Heatstroke) Is a Greater Threat to UK Dogs Animals VetCompass primary-care canine heatstroke heat-related illness heat stress brachycephalic |
| title | Dogs Don’t Die Just in Hot Cars—Exertional Heat-Related Illness (Heatstroke) Is a Greater Threat to UK Dogs |
| title_full | Dogs Don’t Die Just in Hot Cars—Exertional Heat-Related Illness (Heatstroke) Is a Greater Threat to UK Dogs |
| title_fullStr | Dogs Don’t Die Just in Hot Cars—Exertional Heat-Related Illness (Heatstroke) Is a Greater Threat to UK Dogs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dogs Don’t Die Just in Hot Cars—Exertional Heat-Related Illness (Heatstroke) Is a Greater Threat to UK Dogs |
| title_short | Dogs Don’t Die Just in Hot Cars—Exertional Heat-Related Illness (Heatstroke) Is a Greater Threat to UK Dogs |
| title_sort | dogs don t die just in hot cars exertional heat related illness heatstroke is a greater threat to uk dogs |
| topic | VetCompass primary-care canine heatstroke heat-related illness heat stress brachycephalic |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/8/1324 |
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