Hot Dog Summer

Human actions are leading rises in global temperatures and brachycephalic (smush-faced) dogs are increasing in popularity, but these dogs are at an increased risk of developing heat-related illnesses. Therefore, it is important to know the clinical signs associated with heat stroke to help best prevent this disease.

Episode Hosts: Allison Crowell, Ariana Dickson, Megan Slaughter

Course Coordinators & Podcast Ringmasters: Colleen Duncan, Molly Carpenter, Treana Mayer

Audio Engineer: Ethan Fagre

Special Guests: Dr. Carissa Tong, DVM, DACVECC and Tricia Fry, pug owner and PhD candidate

EPISODE NOTES:

Brachycephalic dogs, well-known as our “smush-faced” friends (think: English bulldogs, French bulldogs, pugs, Boston Terriers, etc) have been rising in popularity in both the US and UK in the last decade. As adorable as these dogs are, both in looks and in temperament, these breeds are predisposed to heat-related illnesses. Considering this, rising global temperatures due to climate change will only increase the risk for these dogs. Join us as we explore why brachycephalic dogs are so prone to heat stroke, the signs to look for in your pets, and what you can do to help against climate change.

References:

Increasing Popularity in the UK:

O’Neill, D.G., Darwent, E.C., Church, D.B., Brodbelt, D.C., 2016. Demography and health of Pugs under primary veterinary care in England. Canine Genet Epidemiol 3, 5. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40575-016-0035-z

Increasing registrations in the US:

Humane Society Veterinary Medicine Association. The Cost of Cuteness: Health and Welfare Issues Associated with Brachycephalic Dog Breeds. <https://www.hsvma.org/brachycephalic> (last accessed Nov 29, 2021).

IPPC Report:

Masson-Delmotte, V., Zhai, P., Pirani,A., Connors, S.L., Péan,C, Berger, S., Caud N., Chen, Y., Goldfarb, L., Gomis, M.I., Huang, M., Leitzell, K., Lonnoy,E., Matthews,J.B.R., Maycock,T.K., Waterfield,T., Yelekçi, O., Yu, R., and Zhou, B. (eds.). IPCC, 2021: Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press.

Article about increased risk of heat-related illness to brachycephalic breeds:

Hall, E.J., Carter, A.J., O’Neill, D.G., 2020. Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016. Sci Rep 10, 9128. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-66015-8

Article about cooler temperatures in cities with more vegetation:

Ortega-Rosas, C.I., Enciso-Miranda, C.A., Macías-Duarte, A., Morales-Romero, D., Villarruel-Sahagún, L., 2020. Urban vegetation cover correlates with environmental variables in a desert city: insights of mitigation measures to climate change. Urban Ecosyst 23, 1191–1207.https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-020-00982-8

Link to tree-planting project in Colorado: The Institute for Environmental Solutions