{"title":"Evaluation of methods to reduce exercise-induced heat stress in working Labrador Retrievers.","authors":"Robert L Gillette, J C Alves, Sarah Shull","doi":"10.2460/ajvr.25.06.0228","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To compare different methods for cooling dogs in the field following a heat stress event.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>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.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>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.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Applying alcohol or water to glabrous areas, in combination with increased airflow, effectively reduced core temperature from a very early stage.</p><p><strong>Clinical relevance: </strong>This study describes an approach to reduce the risk of heat-related damage.</p>","PeriodicalId":7754,"journal":{"name":"American journal of veterinary research","volume":" ","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4000,"publicationDate":"2025-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"American journal of veterinary research","FirstCategoryId":"97","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.25.06.0228","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"VETERINARY SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
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.
期刊介绍:
The American Journal of Veterinary Research supports the collaborative exchange of information between researchers and clinicians by publishing novel research findings that bridge the gulf between basic research and clinical practice or that help to translate laboratory research and preclinical studies to the development of clinical trials and clinical practice. The journal welcomes submission of high-quality original studies and review articles in a wide range of scientific fields, including anatomy, anesthesiology, animal welfare, behavior, epidemiology, genetics, heredity, infectious disease, molecular biology, oncology, pharmacology, pathogenic mechanisms, physiology, surgery, theriogenology, toxicology, and vaccinology. Species of interest include production animals, companion animals, equids, exotic animals, birds, reptiles, and wild and marine animals. Reports of laboratory animal studies and studies involving the use of animals as experimental models of human diseases are considered only when the study results are of demonstrable benefit to the species used in the research or to another species of veterinary interest. Other fields of interest or animals species are not necessarily excluded from consideration, but such reports must focus on novel research findings. Submitted papers must make an original and substantial contribution to the veterinary medicine knowledge base; preliminary studies are not appropriate.