U.K. study evaluated heat-related illness in small animals over 5 years

Researchers evaluated electronic records from veterinary practices in the U.K. from 2013-2018 for animals presented for heat induced illness.  

The study evaluated  records from 175 animals, of those there were 146 dogs, 16 cats, 8, guinea pigs, 3 rabbits, and 1 ferret.  The results indicated that exercise was the primary reason for illness in dogs with 73.5% being affected.  Environmental factors were a trigger for 19.6% and car confinement was 6.9%.  Brachychephalic breeds comprised 21.2% of all dog cases and all rabbit cases.  Also, 42.5% of cases overall were presented in July, the UK’s hottest month. 

Findings support that exercise is the most common trigger and that brachycephalic breeds are at most risk. 

Click on the link below for the full article

Surveillance of heat-related illness in small animals presenting to veterinary practices in the UK between 2013 and 2018

 

 

 

 

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