Heatwaves around the world are becoming longer and more intense due to climate change. But even when the weather isn't blazing hot, pets can get heat injuries, catching owners off guard, BBC reports. Veterinarians say they often see a spike in heat injuries in dogs during late spring. We can start seeing heatstroke pretty early, even if the weather itself isn't extraordinarily hot, says veterinarian Amanda Cavanagh, who leads urgent care services at the Colorado State University veterinary hospital. Pet dogs often suffer heat injuries during such heatwaves for two reasons: their physical fitness is down and they are not acclimatised to the heat. Some owners reduce walks during the colder months, says Katherine Farrell, an emergency and critical care veterinary specialist at the University of California, Davis. Then, when the days warm up, they are eager to take their dogs for a long hike, which can expose them to excessive heat. They didn't anticipate the weather and their pet is not in that great of shape, says Farrell. Canines can be conditioned to endure the heat, with military and police dogs often working through the heat, notes Cavanagh. But those German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois are exercised throughout the year, maintaining peak physical fitness. Some dogs are poorly equipped to shed heat. You might be picturing a fluffy Samoyed, but they are not the worst-suited to the hot weather. Instead, squish-faced or brachycephalic breeds, such as bulldogs, French bulldogs and pugs top the list of dogs most likely to suffer in the Sun. One study found these canines had a risk of heat illness more than four times higher than dogs with longer snouts. Their short snouts are to blame. Dogs mainly get rid of heat through panting, which moves heat out of their airways and into the environment, explains Cavanagh. The water vapour from their respiratory system evaporates, producing a cooling effect. (While dogs can sweat through their paws, this is of minimal significance for cooling, says Farrell). Read full story here.
