Extreme Heat Could Raise Death Risk For Pet Dogs By 10%, Warns Study

UNSW Sydney scientists have issued a grave warning: extreme heat dog deaths are rising significantly, increasing mortality among domestic dogs and raising serious concerns about pet welfare amid rising global temperatures.

UNSW researchers say that temperatures reach their extremes when the chances of dying in a dog increase by 10%. The findings state the growing danger that lies due to human-induced climate change—not just toward humans but toward animals that rely upon us for their care.

When analyzing the data, researchers in this study investigated a large dataset of dog mortality within heatwaves. And the result shows a direct and totally alarming impact of temperatures on dog death rates.

Sites are protected by heat experts and dogs have limited ability to cool off on their own and depending upon their owners for water, shade, and shelter.

In light of the information, the researchers do warn the pet owners to be wary during hot spells. Keeping dogs cool and hydrated and never locking them in enclosed places such as cars when it’s hot out could make all the difference for their survival.

With the increasing preponderance of heatwaves and maximum temperatures, this study constitutes one pearl of evidence to acceding to calls for immediate climate action and thereby a matter of human security, equally so for companion animals.

Published in the Australian Veterinary Journal, the study looked at 20 years of veterinary data most extensively from New South Wales. In fact, the study revealed that public holidays and Sundays were the most dangerous times to keep dogs alive.

“This is especially concerning,” notes Dr Joy Tripovich, lead author of the UNSW study, “as climate change is expected to intensify the frequency and severity of heatwaves in the future.”

According to the news release, analysis shows deaths in dogs increase by nearly 10% on days of extreme heat (temperatures surpassing 32°C). More so, the risk increases by about 1% for each single degree above 25°C.

What is remarkable is that mortality spikes on public holidays by 155%, whereas on Sundays, it nearly doubles compared to the usual weekdays. Interestingly, these spikes in extreme heat dog deaths were not directly correlated with temperature changes.

The riskiest days for canine fatalities were New Year’s Day and Christmas Day—also among the hottest and busiest times of the year.

Researchers theorize that this is because pets are getting out more during holidays—where dogs are being subjected to more physical activity and heat stress.

Another factor,” says co-author and Sydney School of Veterinary Science veterinarian Dr Anne Quain, “is that owners are more reckless with their dogs on weekends and holidays and this results in more accidental events.”

Some breeds are more at risk, such as Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogs, Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Border Collies, and Staffordshire Bull Terriers.

“Through these findings, the value of proactive measures by pet owners and veterinarians, including shading and maintaining hydration, comes through,” Dr Tripovich states.

She further reiterated that future research will be necessary in order to better understand these patterns of death and provide effective heat safety measures for pets.