Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Best ways to cool down working Labrador Retrievers after exercise
By Gillette, Robert L et al.·Published in American journal of veterinary research·2025·Sportsvet Veterinary Consulting Services·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Evaluation of methods to reduce exercise-induced heat stress in working Labrador Retrievers.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Twelve working Labrador Retrievers were tested for ways to cool them down after experiencing heat stress during exercise. The dogs ran on a treadmill, and their temperatures and heart rates were monitored. It was found that giving them ice water helped lower their core temperature, but the best results came from applying alcohol or water to their skin while using a fan. This combination worked quickly to cool them down and could help prevent heat-related health issues in active dogs.
People also search for: how to cool down a dog after exercise · Labrador heat stress symptoms · best ways to cool a dog down
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To compare different methods for cooling dogs in the field following a heat stress event. METHODS: In this experimental study, animals were in a conditioning program 5 of 7 days per week. For the test, dogs ran on a treadmill for 30 minutes at 12.5 km/h and a 2.5% incline, with room temperature maintained between 21 and 22 °C and the relative humidity maintained between 64% and 65.6%. A wet bulb globe thermometer was used to evaluate the immediate environment. In the first test, 6 method groups were assessed based on the cooling method implemented. The groups were no cooling, ingestion of ice water, cooling blanket use, use of a fan, or the application of alcohol or water to glabrous skin areas. In this test, rectal temperature, core temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate were measured. In a second test, a fan was added to the water and alcohol methods from test 1, and the values were compared to the test 1 values. RESULTS: The sample included 12 Labrador Retrievers. In the first test, ingestion of ice water was the only treatment to reduce core temperature. In test 2, tap water + fan and alcohol + fan were more effective from the first evaluation moment postexercise. Both approaches showed similar results to each other. CONCLUSIONS: Applying alcohol or water to glabrous areas, in combination with increased airflow, effectively reduced core temperature from a very early stage. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study describes an approach to reduce the risk of heat-related damage.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41056982/