Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Dog owners using outdated heatstroke first aid, study finds
“Acting early to cool dogs as soon as mild signs of overheating are observed will save lives” – Dan O'Neill.
Researchers call for owners to 'cool first, transport second'.

A new study into the first aid received by dogs suffering from heat-related illness (HRI) before they are brought to a veterinary practice has found that only a small minority of owners are following the most up-to-date guidance.

Researchers found that the outdated cooling technique of applying wet towels had been used on more than half of dogs (51.3 per cent) that had been actively cooled by their owners before being transported to a veterinary practice.

Only 24 per cent had been cooled using the recommended methods of cold water immersion or soaking combined with air movement from a breeze, fan, or air conditioning system.

A large majority of owners did nothing to actively cool their dog before transporting them, with only 21.7 per cent of dogs being actively cooled before they received veterinary treatment.

The study, involving researchers from the Royal Veterinary College, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and Vets Now, used data from VetCompass to look at a total of 856 dogs which were presented for veterinary treatment of HRI in the UK between 2016 and 2018.

In response to the findings, the researchers are urging owners to follow the 2016 Vet-COT recommendation ‘cool first, transport second’ and asking the veterinary profession to help spread awareness of the most effective active cooling techniques.

Anne Carter, senior lecturer at SRUC, and co-author of the paper, said: “It takes time to put research into practice, and this can be harder when you’re faced with long-standing myths. We urge veterinary professionals, dog owners and any sources of first aid advice to review the recommendations on cooling methods, dispel the myths and promote the message to ‘cool first, transport second’.”

Dan O’Neill, associate professor at the RVC, and co-author of the paper, added: “Our previous research showed that 97 per cent of dogs treated for mild heat-related illness survived while only 43 per cent of dogs treated for severe heat-related illness (heatstroke) survived. The data are very clear; acting early to cool dogs as soon as mild signs of overheating are observed will save lives.”

The study, ‘Cooling Methods Used to Manage Heat-Related Illness in Dogs Presented to Primary Care Veterinary Practices during 2016–2018 in the UK’, has been published in the journal Veterinary Sciences.

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Webinar to explore AMR in vet dentistry

News Story 1
 The WSAVA has invited veterinary professionals to a webinar on responsible antibiotic usage in dentistry.

On 19 November 2025, at 1am, Dr J Scott Weese and Dr Brooke Niemiec will share the latest advice for antimicrobial use. They will present research on oral bacterology, and explain how attendees can choose appropriate antibiotics.

The session will cover pre-, intra- and post-operative guidelines, with recommendations for various pathologies.

The webinar is designed to support veterinary professionals to make informed decisions and tackle antimicrobial resistance.

Attendees can register here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue reaches Wales for first time in 2025

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has revealed that bluetongue has been confirmed in Wales for the first time in 2025.

In their latest statistics, APHA records a total of 109 cases of BTV-3 or BTV-8 in Great Britain in the 2025-2026 vector season.

The total number of BTV-3 cases in Great Britain this season is 107. This includes 103 cases within the England restricted zone and four cases in Wales.

There has also been two cases of BTV-8, which were both in Cornwall.

As a result of the cases in Wales, a Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) is enforced in Monmouthshire. Animals can move freely under general license within the England Restricted Zone, however animals with suspected bluetongue must stay on their holding.

All premises testing positive for blue tongue can be viewed on this map.