Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Heat-related illness in UK dogs treated at emergency vets in 2022
By Beard, Sian et al.·Published in The Veterinary record·2024·Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Epidemiology of heat-related illness in dogs under UK emergency veterinary care in 2022.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
In 2022, a significant number of dogs in the UK experienced heat-related illness (HRI) due to extreme temperatures, with 384 cases reported in emergency veterinary clinics. Brachycephalic breeds, like Bulldogs and Pugs, were particularly at risk, having over four times the likelihood of developing HRI compared to other breeds. Unfortunately, the fatality rate for these cases was around 27%. This highlights the importance of keeping dogs cool and safe during hot weather, especially for breeds that struggle with heat.
People also search for: dog heat stroke symptoms · brachycephalic dog care · how to cool down a dog in hot weather
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Dogs are exposed to increasing environmental risk for developing heat-related illness (HRI), with 2022 recorded as the hottest year to date in the UK and most of Europe. METHODS: This study used VetCompass data to report the incidence risk, event fatality rate and canine risk factors for HRI in dogs presenting to Vets Now emergency care practices in the UK during 2022. RESULTS: From the clinical records of 167,751 dogs under care at Vets Now emergency clinics in 2022, 384 HRI events were identified. The 2022 incidence risk of HRI within the Vets Now caseload was 0.23% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.21%‒0.25%), with an event fatality rate of 26.56% (95% CI: 21.66%-32.25%). Multivariable analysis identified breed, age and sex/neuter status as risk factors for HRI. Brachycephalic dogs had 4.21 times the odds of HRI compared to mesocephalic dogs (95% CI: 3.22‒5.49, p < 0.001). LIMITATIONS: The clinical data used in this study were not primarily recorded for research and had some substantial levels of missing data (especially patient bodyweight). CONCLUSION: In order to protect canine welfare, improved long-term mitigation strategies are urgently needed to minimise HRI risk and associated fatality in UK dogs.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38783549/