Red alert for furry friends on sweltering hot days
Days above 32C have been linked to a nearly 10 per cent spike in dog death risk, research suggests.
Older animals, pets with existing health conditions and flat-faced breeds are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat, but all dogs are at risk as they cannot sweat effectively and rely on panting and drinking water to stay cool.
University of NSW researchers have found a clear link between dog deaths and hot, humid days, with the risk of mortality increasing by one per cent for every degree above 25C.
Animal ecologist from the university and lead author of the analysis of NSW veterinary data, Joy Tripovich, said the findings underlined the seriousness of pet heat stress in a nation prone to hot weather.
"Given that we're expecting these extreme weather events to happen with more frequency and intensity mean it's something to make people aware of," Dr Tripovich told AAP.
Greater concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are expected to produce more heatwaves, with the Climate Council anticipating double the amount of 35C days each year by 2050 for nearly a third of Australian communities.
Authorities had become better at warning people ahead of extremely hot days and Dr Tripovich said those alerts should be heeded for pets.
"We can then proactively plan, you know, 'does my dog have access to fresh water, shade and a ventilated area? Can it be kept inside?'," she told AAP.
Dogs exhibiting signs of heat stress should be taken to the vet as soon as possible, she said.
The analysis of 20 years of state vet data also revealed a sharp spike in dog death risk on public holidays and weekends, irrespective of heat conditions.
On public holidays, dog deaths surge a massive 155 per cent.
Sundays experience nearly twice as many mortalities compared with other days of the week.
There are a number of different explanations for higher dog deaths on weekends and public holidays, including vets are either closed or appointments more expensive.
Owners are also more likely to be either taking their dogs out and about, which may put them at greater risk of heat stress due to too much physical activity.
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