Cooling Strategies to Treat Hyperthermia in Dogs

CHF Grant 03077-A: Cooling Strategies During Exertional Hyperthermia

Publication:
Parnes, S. C., Mallikarjun, A., Ramos, M. T., Capparell, T. R., & Otto, C. M. (2024). Voluntary head dunking after exercise-induced hyperthermia rapidly reduces core body temperature in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (published online ahead of print 2024). Retrieved Sep 23, 2024, from https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.24.06.0368
(Includes a video demonstrating how to train the voluntary head dunk.)

What can we learn?
Heat injury is a significant risk for working and sporting dogs due to their exposure to high environmental temperatures and the generation of heat through exercise. While cooling methods such as applying isopropyl alcohol to the foot pads and submerging the dog in cool water have been recommended for heat injury, no studies have compared these treatment methods. In this study, researchers compared the efficacy of four cooling methods in dogs with exercise-induced hyperthermia: 1) an ice pack applied to the neck, 2) a wet towel applied to the neck, 3) wet towels applied to the axillae, and 4) a voluntary head dunk into 70˚F water.

Dogs were monitored for 40 minutes after their core body temperature reached 105˚F or two or more signs of heat stress were observed. The voluntary head dunk method resulted in the lowest average body temperature at 5 minutes and for the subsequent 35 minutes of monitoring.

Conclusion:

• “Cool first, transport second” is recommended to reduce the morbidity and mortality of acute heat injury in dogs.

• A trained, voluntary head dunk with limited water ingestion results in rapid cooling in the field for dogs with exercise-induced hyperthermia. Please note that this method requires a dog with normal mental status and the ability to pause panting.