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Veterinary VertexAuthor: AVMA Journals
Veterinary Vertex is a weekly podcast that takes you behind the scenes of the clinical and research discoveries published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) and the American Journal of Veterinary Research (AJVR). Tune in to learn about cutting-edge veterinary research and gain in-depth insights you wont find anywhere else. Come away with knowledge you can put to use in your own practice along with a healthy dose of inspiration to remind you what you love about veterinary medicine. Language: en-us Genres: Health & Fitness, Medicine, Science Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Rapid Cooling in Dogs: The Science Behind Post-Exercise Head Dunking
Friday, 9 January, 2026
Send us a textA working dog powers through a hot training session, then stops. The clock is ticking, because core temperature can keep climbing even after the effort ends. We sit down with JAVMA student award winner Sarah Parnes to unpack a simple, field-ready strategy that changes outcomes: cool first, transport second. Using the gear most of us carry—a water bottle, a towel, a small cooler—Sara's team tested multiple methods outdoors to mirror real-world conditions. One approach stood out: a voluntary head dunk that quickly blunted the post-exercise temperature rise while other techniques only reduced heat more slowly.We dig into why the head matters for thermoregulation, how targeted cooling may protect the brain and calm the system, and what owners can do when water is limited. If a dog won’t dunk, pouring water over the head or using a wet towel still helps, but the dunk delivered the strongest effect. We also break down the early signs of heat stress that many people miss: ears pulled back, a long curled tongue, squinting eyes, shade seeking, and sudden reluctance to move. For brachycephalic breeds like French Bulldogs and Pugs, we share prevention tactics that reduce risk on hot days, from timing exercise to creating shade and ensuring fresh water.Sarah also opens up about the research journey, from designing realistic protocols to exploring unanswered questions—like how post-exercise drinking during a dunk may influence cooling, and what head-focused alternatives work for dogs that avoid submersion. Whether you handle working dogs or walk a weekend warrior, you’ll leave with practical tools to act fast and smart when the temperature spikes. If this conversation helps you or your dog community, subscribe, share the episode, and leave a quick review so more listeners can find these life-saving tips.JAVMA article: https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.24.06.0368INTERESTED IN SUBMITTING YOUR MANUSCRIPT TO JAVMA ® OR AJVR ® ? JAVMA ® : https://avma.org/JAVMAAuthors AJVR ® : https://avma.org/AJVRAuthorsFOLLOW US:JAVMA ® : Facebook: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association - JAVMA | Facebook Instagram: JAVMA (@avma_javma) • Instagram photos and videos Twitter: JAVMA (@AVMAJAVMA) / Twitter AJVR ® : Facebook: American Journal of Veterinary Research - AJVR | Facebook Instagram: AJVR (@ajvroa) • Instagram photos and videos Twitter: AJVR (@AJVROA) / Twitter JAVMA ® and AJVR ® LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/avma-journals
