TY - JOUR AU - Ewers Clark, Anna PY - 2022/12/22 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - Heatstroke and brachycephalic dogs – is there an increased risk? JF - Veterinary Evidence JA - VE VL - 7 IS - 4 SE - Knowledge Summaries DO - 10.18849/ve.v7i4.534 UR - https://veterinaryevidence.org/index.php/ve/article/view/534 SP - AB - <p><strong>PICO question</strong></p><p>Do dogs that are brachycephalic have an increased risk for developing heat-related illness compared to dogs that are not brachycephalics?</p><h3> </h3><p><strong>Clinical bottom line</strong></p><p><strong>Category of research</strong></p><p>Risk.</p><p><strong>Number and type of study designs reviewed</strong></p><p>Four studies were critically appraised. Three of these were cohort studies, one was a case-control study.</p><p><strong>Strength of evidence</strong></p><p>Moderate.</p><p><strong>Outcomes reported</strong></p><p>Brachycephalic dogs are at increased risk of developing heat-related illness and brachycephalic breeds are over-represented in presentations for heatstroke. Other factors named, such as body weight, also contributed to the risk of developing heat-related illness.</p><p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p><p>Dogs that are brachycephalic are likely to have an increased risk for developing heat-related illness compared to non-brachycephalic dogs.</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://learn.rcvsknowledge.org/mod/book/view.php?id=50" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>How to apply the evidence in practice</strong></a></p><p>The application of evidence into practice should take into account multiple factors, not limited to: individual clinical expertise, patient’s circumstances and owners’ values, country, location or clinic where you work, the individual case in front of you, the availability of therapies and resources.</p><p>Knowledge Summaries are a resource to help reinforce or inform decision making. They do not override the responsibility or judgement of the practitioner to do what is best for the animal in their care.</p> ER -